Journalist Dean Jones has claimed that Declan Rice may have to finish the season playing in defence due to injury woes at West Ham United.
The Hammers have been struck with serious defence injuries at the wrong time as they prepare to host Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-final of the Europa League. Issa Diop is the latest casualty to miss the fixture after he sustained an injury earlier this month, meaning Craig Dawson is the only fit centre-back at the club.
The Hammers face Arsenal on Sunday in the Premier League, and Dawson will miss the fixture after he picked up a red card against Chelsea last weekend, so unless one of the injured defenders makes a miraculous return, David Moyes will have no fit senior centre-backs.
Amid the defensive crisis at West Ham, Jones spoke to GiveMeSport and highlighted that Declan Rice may have to play at the back for the remainder of the season.
He said: “It’s been a devastating blow to see these defenders fall down one by one, and you’re in the situation where you’re wondering if Declan Rice is going to end the season playing at centre-back.”
Do you think Declan Rice could do a job in defence?Yes
No
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TIF Thoughts on Dean Jones’ comments…
Rice has been one of the standout performers for West Ham this season, so to take him out of the midfield and play him in defence could be damaging for the Hammers in the final stages of the season.
In the Premier League this term for West Ham, Rice has the highest average player rating (7.17), the highest amount of accurate passes per game (53.6) and the most interceptions per game (1.7), as per SofaScore.
Although it could disrupt West Ham if Rice was moved to defence, Moyes may have no other option, as it could be deemed as a big risk to call up one of the players from the academy.