Tony Cottee states West Ham star Declan Rice will be even better in defence

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Tony Cottee has stated that West Ham’s Declan Rice could become an even better player if he drops back into defence from midfield.

The 20-year-old is enjoying a standout season for the Hammers this campaign and is surely one of the first names in Manuel Pellegrini’s XI.

He is a product of the club’s academy and has shown he’s got the versatility to play in midfield or defence.

But his breakthrough has come as a defensive midfield in the centre of the park, where he helps break up play and keep the ball ticking over with his range of passing.

Ex-West Ham player and current Sky Sports pundit Cottee believes Rice’s midfield role is an education right now, but views his long-term future at centre-back and believes he can be better in that role.

“I personally think he’ll slot back into that centre-half position,” Cottee told talkSPORT journalist Ian Abrahams, as quoted on his Instagram

“It’s a good learning position for him [in midfield]. You’ve got to get on the half turn, you’ve got to know what’s going on in the game. And then when you drop back into that centre-half position, I think he’ll be an even better player.”

TBR’s View:

Rice certainly is attracting a lot of attention right now and won the Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards on Thursday night.

The enforcer has pledged his national allegiances to England in somewhat controversial fashion and he’s now being tipped for a highly successful future.

There is no doubt he’s showing maturity well beyond his years and is one of West Ham’s most consistent performers in the Premier League this season.

He’s placed on record he views his future in midfield and that could be a big deciding factor, but the flexibility to drop back into defence is always a useful one for a manager to have within his squad.