PROOF WILL BE IN THE PUDDING FOR RICE AS MOYES SETS CHALLENGE FOR YOUNG SKIPPER
WEST HAM boss David Moyes has challenged Declan Rice to become a major player on the world stage — by emulating some of the best midfielders on the continent.
Rice has established himself as a mainstay in the England team and with the World Cup looming, Moyes reckons his captain has what it takes to become as good as Sergio Busquets and Toni Kroos (below), both winners with Spain and Germany respectively.
“Dec can challenge anybody, but over the years you think of players like Busquets or Kroos, you would be saying that’s your aim to be like them,” said Moyes.
“Busquets was brilliant for Barcelona and Toni Kroos has been the best passing midfielder in Europe for about 10 years.
“We want Declan to be one of them and be one of the best in those individual things.
“But he played in a Euros final last summer and I have no doubt he will go to a World Cup and be a big player for England.”
But Moyes says Rice still has to ‘earn the respect’ from his teammates off the pitch in order to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Mark
Noble. The former captain racked up 550 appearances before retiring at the end of last season.
“Dec has been our leader on the pitch for the last year or two,” Moyes said.
“His performances have been second to none, the way he works for the team.
“His commitment, he wants to play the games and wants to get better. “The other side is with a bit experience you know what to do in certain situations. “Mark was the shop steward here and could control everything and make things happen.
“You have to earn that respect and Dec still needs to do that, but on the pitch everyone has huge respect for how he plays.”
Since Moyes returned in 2019, Rice has been integral and has played more minutes than any other player at the club.
“Dec is young and the differences he will have at 27 as opposed to 23 will be night and day,” Moyes added.
Rice is set to lead West
Ham into today’s clash against Fulham, but Moyes will be without forward Maxwell Cornet who has a calf problem.