West Ham legend Tony Cottee heaps praise on Declan Rice

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West Ham United legend Tony Cottee has lavished praise on Declan Rice – and believes the youngster has what it takes to reach ‘the very top’.

Rice has been in tremendous form for the Irons this season playing holding midfield, and earned his first two England caps over the latest international break after declaring for the Three Lions.

He has been a mainstay in Manuel Pellegrini’s team and has received major plaudits from a number of former players.

The future certainly does look bright for Rice, who signed a new deal with the club in December.

In the eyes of former striker Cottee, who made 336 appearances for the club, Rice has all the makings of a potential great.

He wrote for the club’s official website: “Declan is doing everything right at the moment, though. He is performing consistently well on the pitch, we are running out of superlatives to describe his development, and I’m sure he will go from strength to strength.”

TBR’s view

Rice is destined to forge a brilliant footballing career.

It is clear that the 20-year-old plays well beyond his years and has excellent footballing intelligence.

Cottee also noted that Rice will face challenges in the form of opponents trying to put him off his game, but this will only help mould him into a better player in the long run.

Whether West Ham are able to keep hold of the player for years to come remains to be seen. The most realistic of Hammers fans are certainly under no illusions that the player will go forth without attracting attention from elsewhere.