Declan hailed as the potential midfield heir to Fernandinho

DECLAN RICE said his team-mates are always urging him to shoot more — and he certainly took their advice yesterday to devastating effect.

The 19-year-old, who turns 20 tomorrow, became the 10th West Ham teenager to score a Premier League goal with a crisply struck stunner against Arsenal.

‘I can’t put it into the words,’ said Rice. ‘The lads are always on at me to take the shot on more. I have been getting into the box more recently.’

He boasted an impressive 85 per cent pass rate, figures that had Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp suggesting the Hammers’ youngster should be on Pep Guardiola’s radar. Redknapp said: ‘You look at players like Fernandinho at Manchester City and they must be looking at Declan Rice thinking “he’s the next one” because it’s so hard to find good players in that position.’

Classy City midfielder Fernandinho is among the Premier League’s midfield pass masters, averaging 74 per game

compared to Rice’s 43.