Big pals Mount and Rice hope England dream will come true
“Just seeing how he’s doing,” joked Declan Rice before exiting stage right with a smile and a wave.
The moment brought laughs from the gathered journalists at St George’s Park. It was almost like Thursday night at the local youth club.
The fun atmosphere is something manager Gareth Southgate wants to foster with England, as the players he has seen in the Under-21s gradually come through to the senior ranks.
But this is also serious stuff for the two best friends. Pals since they were together at Chelsea from the ages of six for Mount and seven for Rice, the duo have stuck together through thick and thin.
And tomorrow they could make their first senior appearance together as England aim to maintain their 100 per cent Euro 2020 qualifying record against Bulgaria at Wembley – or the occasion could come on Tuesday against Kosovo at Southampton.
Mount, called up for the Nations League games against Croatia and Spain last year but unused, said he was “gutted” when Rice was released by Chelsea aged 14.
However, he was proud his friend recovered from the setback to forge a career at West Ham. The Blues youngster said: “Playing for England with Declan is something spoken about for a long time.”
Holding midfielder Rice has three England caps after switching allegiance from the Republic of Ireland last year.
Mount, 20, added: “We’re very close. Playing at Chelsea together at that young age, it was something special, so we’ve always kept that hope of it maybe happening again.
“I was gutted when Declan left. He’s bounced back and look what he’s doing now.
“That’s what he’s like. He doesn’t let anything get him down, he’s always focused on achieving big things.”
Mount faces tough opposition to break into Southgate’s attacking midfield – with Ross Barkley, Jesse Lingard,
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Maddison, Jadon Sancho and, when fit, Ruben Loftus-Cheek ahead of him.
He said: “The competition is so high. You have to train each day as if it is your last.” we’ve