Football fans everywhere will all tell you that there is no frustration greater than sending a player away to play international football fit, healthy and in-form, just for them to come back unavailable and crocked.
However, that was very nearly the case with this particular Hammer.
West Ham fans have been in fear over losing one of their key men this weekend during the round of internationals, and they were given one hell of a scare when it was reported by Football.London that Declan Rice has got a virus, despite it not being reported by either England or West Ham.
The news coming from a reliable source will have made plenty of the Irons extremely nervy, but fortunately, everyone’s favourite West Ham insider, ExWHUEmployee, has been on hand on Twitter to relax the fans and let the supporters know that Rice’s illness isn’t thought to be serious.
He isn’t very well apparently https://t.co/l6JkqSpLBV
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) October 13, 2019
After being asked by a West Ham fans why Rice didn’t train with England ahead of the Three Lions clash with Bulgaria, Ex made it clear that Rice wasn’t injured, but was, in fact, suffering from an illness. This lead to a rush of panic from a handful of West Ham supporters as they tried to rationalise his absence from training:
Maybe Southgate taking him out of the firing line to ease the pressure? we put too much pressure on our young players and ruin them… Rice will prove the doubters wrong in no time!
— MentalMoles (@MentalMoles) October 13, 2019
Seriously
— Joel Koch (@JoelKoch09) October 13, 2019
He’ll be ok for Everton right?
— Richard Knott (@RichardKnott2) October 13, 2019
‘Isn’t very well’ is code for ‘he won’t be starting the next match’
— Tony Cox (@doc9739rgj) October 13, 2019
Always knew this one happen .. hope Southgate taking him out of limelight and away from your press that love to destroy kids and anyone
— mairead brophy (@mairbro) October 13, 2019
ills better than being injured !!
— tracey andrews (@lemlem75) October 13, 2019
One fan even used it as a chance to take a pop at James Maddison, the England international who withdrew from the squad through illness before being spotted in a casino in Leicester (The Sun):
He’ll be in the casino with Maddison then
— Russell Kirby (@rustyk1971) October 13, 2019
Luckily for those panicked Hammers, though, Ex was then on hand again to clear up the situation, responding to one fan’s question of whether or not the 20-year-old would be available for Everton, before then tweeting again that Rice would be available later the same day for those that may have missed the first tweet…
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) October 14, 2019
Rice will be available for the Everton game. It was just a virus that meant he missed England training (as covered yesterday)
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) October 14, 2019