Carlos Carvalhal has gushed over the performance of West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice after the 2-0 win against Newcastle on Saturday.
The 20-year-old was one of the goalscorers at the London Stadium at the weekend, securing his second strike of the season before Mark Noble slotted home from the penalty spot.
Former Swansea boss Carvalhal has drooled over the youngster’s list of attributes, remarking on how he is good at his positioning and has the strength and pace, all qualities he thinks are important.
“Declan Rice is not a surprise because he did well last season, but he’s more consistent at the moment, playing more often,” he told Sky Sports.
“He’s a very good, talented player who is 20 years old, knows his position very well, he is strong and has pace, he understands the game too which is very important.”
OPINION
Rice is a hot topic at the moment, and to be honest, it is rather easy to see why. The ace has been a consistent performer all season, and there has not been a game that has gone by where he has really disappointed the West Ham faithful. At the age of 20, this is a very good sign of things to come and it shows that he is going to be a mainstay within the starting XI for years to come. There has been much talk about him being called up for England, and based on this display, it looks like that call up could be around the corner. Gareth Southgate has no doubt been impressed by what he has seen from Rice this season, and it is clear that he will make a real impact on the team if chosen to play. Either way, Carvalhal is right to heap praise on Rice like this, as he was magnificent once again.