Rice should get an Ireland cap in Turkey friendly

DECLAN RICE has made a very impressive start to life as a Premier League footballer.

Whether playing as a centre-back in a threeman defence for David Moyes or as a holding midfielder, he has acquitted himself well in his first full season.

I was at Old Trafford early in the season when he came on as a sub and although West Ham lost badly, Rice (pictured) caught my eye that day. He struggled a bit at Brighton yesterday but is clearly trusted by Moyes and is here to stay.

And there is encouragement too from fellow Irishman Josh Cullen at West Ham who has just returned from a loan spell at Bolton and played a couple of FA Cup ties.

Rice is a competent defender who can pass and the best thing is that he is gaining valuable experience at such a young age. Ireland do not have many playing regularly in the Premier League so he can only add to Martin O’Neill’s squad.

Rice should be included in the squad to play in Turkey next month. The sooner he has a senior cap, the better.

England manager Gareth Southgate has been making encouraging comments about Rice, which has set the alarm bells ringing.

But, unlike Jack Grealish, the signs are that Rice wants to play for Ireland, and hopefully there will be no issues.