Declan Rice impressed for West Ham United on Sunday.
Declan Rice managed to earn a half-an-hour cameo in West Ham United’s 4-0 defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 18-year-old defender has enjoyed a fantastic pre-season for the Irons, and did his chances of staying with the senior side no harm at all with a mature performance.
The young Irishman said on Twitter afterwards that he was “gutted” with the result, but West Ham fans were quick to reassure him that he could be proud of his own display.
At just 18, Rice, who can also play in midfield, is certainly a fine talent but it will be interesting to see whether Slaven Bilic keeps him this season or sends him out on loan.
As the saying goes, if you’re good enough then you’re old enough and if Rice handled himself well at Old Trafford of all places then it might indicate that he could handle the pressure at other venues.
Then again, this time two years ago it was Reece Oxford who West Ham fans were raving about, having posted a fine performance in an opening-day victory at Arsenal, and the 18-year-old was loaned to Borussia Monchengladbach this summer.
And that is why fans of the East London club won’t be getting overly carried away by Rice’s potential.
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