Sunday Sun

Rice: Criticism of team-mate Mason is ‘harsh’

‘ROOM FOR MOUNT AND GREALISH’

-

DECLAN Rice has labelled criticism of England team-mate Mason Mount as “very harsh” after the Chelsea midfielder faced a social media backlash.

Mount was singled out during the last internatio­nal break as many pundits and supporters clamoured for Jack Grealish to be more involved for the Three Lions.

Despite the criticism, the 21-yearold has impressed for England and scored the winning goal in the Nations League victory over Belgium in October.

Gareth Southgate’s side head for the return tie in Leuven today and, with Rice likely to be included alongside his close friend Mount, the West Ham man offered a staunch defence of his colleague.

“We don’t speak about it but I think it’s very harsh,” Rice replied when asked about the negative social media surroundin­g Mount.

“I witness it here, when I come to train here and I have trained with him since I was a kid.

“So I know what his mentality is like, I know how hard-working and how driven he is and it is no surprise you know that Gareth picks him,

Frank (Lampard) picks him.

“I think if you give every Premier League manager the chance to pick him, they pick him as well because if you see day-in, day-out what he gives to the team as an individual, he’s a top talent – so I think that the criticism is very harsh.” Southgate has insisted it has never been a straight shoot-out between Mount and Grealish for a place in his team and the pair started together in Thursday’s friendly win over the Republic of Ireland.

Rice, too, believes there is no reason why the duo should be seen as rivals and feels both bring plenty to the internatio­nal arena.

“I think if you look at

Jack and you look at

Mason, obviously there’s always going to be comparison­s but they pretty much play in two different parts of the pitch. Mason now at Chelsea is playing as an attacking number eight and Jack is playing off the left.

“I think you could see the other night that they can both play in the same team for sure and they’re both great players that I think we should be valuing.”

Rice was also full of praise for England midfield partner Jordan Henderson.

One of the most experience­d members of Southgate’s current set-up, former Sunderland star Henderson has captained Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League glory in the past two years and Rice is learning plenty from the 30-year-old.

“If you look at Jordan and what he’s done in the game for his whole career really but especially the last couple of years, nothing is so important for someone like me to be playing next to him, to learn to get better,” he added.

“You don’t realise until you’re playing next to him his leadership qualities and what he actually brings to the team – he’s non-stop and he’s always on at you in a good way, in a positive way.”

I know how hardworkin­g and how driven he is and it is no surprise you know that Gareth picks him, Frank picks him

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom