Jamie Redknapp has hailed West Ham rising star Declan Rice as the next John Terry in the Daily Mail.
The high-profile pundit has admitted he was blown away by the young defender’s precocious performance in the Hammers’ 2-1 Premier League defeat against Manchester City on Sunday.
Rice was used as one of three centre-backs in a new-look 3-4-2-1 formation as David Moyes handed the 18-year-0ld just his seventh top-flight appearance.
A late David Silva goal secured the three points late on for the runaway league leaders after a Hammers display that will have heartened their supporters.
“One huge positive for David Moyes was Declan Rice’s commanding display against Manchester City,” Redknapp wrote in the Mail.
“The centre back was not fazed by one of the league’s most feared front lines and set about organising the West Ham defence, pushing and pointing his team-mates into the right positions.
“How many 18-year-olds have you seen do that? He reminds me of a young John Terry and if he isn’t already, Rice should be studying videos of his defending to develop his game.”
OPINION
There has been a lot of noise around Rice for some time. Hammers fans have not had much to shout about this season, but they are convinced that the teenager is the real deal. He was used in a midfield anchorman role in his early league appearances, but Rice is a centre-back and that is the position where he looked so comfortable even against City’s brilliant front line. Redknapp is an astute judge, and the Terry comparison will hearten Hammers. But Reece Oxford was the subject of big talk two years ago, and has not progressed as quickly as many hoped. Rice cannot rest on his laurels after one decent display. He must work his socks off to maximise his immense potential.