Trevor Sinclair says West Ham pair Soucek and Rice are better than Scott McTominay

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Former West Ham and England star, Trevor Sinclair, says that Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay would not displace Declan Rice or Tomas Soucek in the Hammers XI.

After meeting in midweek, a game in which McTominay got the winning goal in extra-time, comparisons were drawn between the United midfield and the Hammers pairing.

The topic on Talksport, where Sinclair was a guest, turned to if McTominay is a better player than Declan Rice, who has been linked with a big-money move away from the club in recent windows.

But Sinclair launched a staunch defence of the West Ham man, and his partner Soucek, insisting the Man United midfielder wouldn’t get in ahead of them in the current Hammers midfield.

“Soucek and Rice keep McTominay out of the West Ham side, where as Rice walks into the Manchester United side,” Sinclair said.

“Rice would go alongside McTominay. He’s better than Fred. If you look at the midfield positions, McTominay is not going to replace Soucek and Rice. Soucek is the club’s top scorer. But I feel if Rice goes to Manchester United, he takes the place of either McTominay or Fred.”

McTominay has come into his own at times this season for the Red Devils. However, he remains on the periphery of things in the main, while both Soucek and Rice have been indespensible for the Hammers.

TBR View: All three are good players but Sinclair might be right here

In fairness, you could play a combo of any of the three as a pairing and probably still have a very successful midfield.

But Sinclair has a point here. West Ham wouldn’t see McTominay walk straight into the XI, while Rice probably does immediatlely improve the Manchester United squad and first XI.

Soucek is having a fine season, however, it remains to be seen whether he can maintain those consistent levels over a longer period.