Jamie Carragher shakes his head as Gary Neville questions the qualities of West Ham star

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Gary Neville questioned on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports (21/12/20 at 7:20 pm) whether West Ham star Declan Rice has the qualities to be a ‘top midfield player’.

Minutes earlier, Jamie Carragher was praising the qualities of West Ham’s number six [Read Here], especially his passing game.

In recent seasons, Rice, who was released by Chelsea at a young age, has made a name for himself at the London Stadium and is also a regular for England.

But Neville, who compared him to the likes of Scott McTominay and Eric Dier, feels that he’s a centre-back playing in midfield, with his comments leaving Carragher shaking his head.

“I think he has had a brilliant start to his career,” said Neville. “To have 112 games under your belt at the age of 21 is fantastic and it’s a massive case for being at a club that plays you.

“Some players, we have seen it at Chelsea and City over the years, who haven’t had the games under their belt at the age of 21.

“You [Jamie Carragher] say he can pass. Of course, he can pass. He’s built up confidence now to be able to improve his game. I think you are right to compare him to Scott McTominay because I think he’s done the same. He has improved enormously.

“I always get the feeling when I watch both of them that they play to me like, a bit like Eric Dier was at Tottenham who I love to bits, a central defender playing in midfield. And they get better on the ball. But are they ever the top real standard to be a top midfield player?”

The key thing that needs to be remembered is that Rice is still in the early stages of learning even though on paper it seems like he is a seasoned professional.

In recent times, he has started to drive with the ball a lot more and even showcased his shooting ability from long-range, which he doesn’t do enough.

And if the West Ham system allows him to, he will be more attack-minded and creative in his passing, but it needs to be remembered that he’s there to protect and destroy before anything else.