HAMMER BLOWS Ireland legends line up to put boot into West Ham starlet but Mick moves on

MICK MCCARTHY washed his hands of Declan Rice last night while a series of Ireland heroes blasted the West Ham star. London-born Rice has declared for England after six months of guessing games over his international future. It is a massive blow for Irish football as Rice was viewed as a future captain and centurion. In a statement the 20-yearold said he was of ‘mixed nationality’ but admitted being a ‘proud Englishman’. That riled Gary Breen and Kevin Kilbane (inset) who are also English-born but enjoyed successful careers with Ireland.

Rice won three senior caps in green and former defender Breen last night raged: “You didn’t seem to be a proud Englishman when you were singing