Ian Wright has admitted that West Ham United midfielder needs to add goals to his game, but claimed that the star just ‘cannot be stopped’ in other aspects.
The Hammers are having a brilliant season and the 22-year-old, who has clocked 2,040 of a possible 2,070 minutes in the Premier League, has played a huge role in that.
West Ham are sixth in the table and just one point behind Liverpool in the hunt for a Champions League qualification place.
Whether it’s off the ball or on it, you’re guaranteed to get a lot of quality from the England international.
And although former West Ham hitman Wright claims that he needs to score more, the pundit also told BBC Sport that he’s rapidly developing into the complete footballer at such a young age.
Wright said: “He’s a leader and when you look at his numbers, it’s not just defensively, he gets forward, his passing accuracy, his interceptions.
“The responsibility he’s got, he’s playing well, he’s leading by example, he’s doing everything. Not only can he pass it but he can run with it as well. He obviously needs to add more goals to his game, but he cannot be stopped with aggressive running, powerful running, passing, interceptions, everything, he’s got the lot..”
Rice started the extra-time defeat at Manchester United last night as David Moyes’s side bowed of the FA Cup.
And honestly, it wasn’t a barnstorming performance from Rice, the like of which West Ham fans have become accustomed to.
Dominating the big games is certainly another strength that he could add to his Arsenal but for the most part Wright is correct, this is a player who could be frightening over the coming years if he continues to mature and develop like this.
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