Chris Sutton hails quality of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice

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Chris Sutton has raved about the qualities of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice and believes he is the complete package.

The 20-year-old has broken into the Hammers XI on a permanent basis this campaign and is currently away on international duty with England’s senior team for the first time.

He is a defensive midfielder that has become integral under Manuel Pellegrini and he’s receiving praise from all angles.

BT Sport pundit Sutton is the latest to shift immense credit onto the youngster and has stressed that he should start for England on Friday in a European Championship qualifier against Czech Republic.

“Declan Rice may have only turned 20 in January and does not have an England cap to his name, but he has to start in midfield against the Czech Republic on Friday,” Sutton wrote in the Daily Mail.

“Rice reads the game superbly, snuffing out danger and winning the ball back for his team. I’ve been impressed by his range of passing, too.

“Going forward, Rice is not afraid to shoot while his aerial ability makes him a threat at set-pieces.”

TBR’s View:

Rice has looked one of the outstanding players for West Ham this season, but a number of players around him haven’t quite performed to their top level.

The youngster’s challenge now will be to standout in an impressive England outfit that Gareth Southgate has built and he will now face a lot tougher competition for his position.

He’s looked a complete natural in the deep-lying midfield role for his club and it would be no surprise to see him get the opportunity to replicate that for his country.

Rice has shown a real maturity to his game so far in his young career and that should help him when putting an England shirt on.