ROSE WELCOMES RICE AND RECALLS HIS OWN DOUBTS OVER ENGLAND

daNNy roSe welcomed declan rice into the england senior squad earlier this week having previously faced his own decision on which nation he wanted to represent. West ham midfielder rice made three friendly appearances for the republic of Ireland before FIFa ratified his request to switch allegiances and play for the three lions. he was called up by Gareth Southgate at the first opportunity and could make his debut in tomorrow’s euro 2020 qualifier against the Czech republic. rose, 28, did not make his own england debut until March 2016 before then-manager roy hodgson picked him in his squad for the european Championship. But things could have been different for the tottenham full-back. had he been overlooked that summer, he might have turned out for Jamaica at the 2016 Copa america instead. ‘I could have played for Jamaica,’ he said. ‘Both sets of grandparents are Jamaican. It was only a conversation, really. But yes, I did think about it because obviously, at one point, I didn’t think I would get a chance to play for england. ‘I wasn’t involved until I was 26 and, for me, that was a bit late because I had been playing regularly since I was 21. ‘there was a point where I didn’t think I was going to play for england. It was only a conversation. there was no deep thought in it. had I not gone to the euros that year then I don’t know. It might have been different.’ rose has since gone on to win 25 caps but admits he would have found it more difficult to come into the squad at a younger age — with 20-year-old rice and Callum hudson-odoi, 18, the latest youngsters to be called up. ‘It is brilliant declan is here,’ added rose. ‘I have watched him and West ham many times this season and he is such a good player. I met him for the first time on Monday and he was really friendly and seems like a proper nice lad.’ Meanwhile, trent alexanderarnold has pulled out of england’s squad with a back problem. alexander-arnold is the fifth player to drop out of the squad, following ruben loftus-Cheek, John Stones, Fabian delph and luke Shaw. Marcus rashford is also a doubt due to an ongoing ankle injury. alexander-arnold’s omission leaves Kyle Walker and Kieran trippier battling it out for the right-back slot.