Declan Rice has told England official YouTube channel about how Tottenham striker Harry Kane was ‘just another level’ when he saw him for the first time ‘up close’ at St George’s Park.
The West Ham midfielder also mentioned Manchester City speedster, Raheem Sterling, as another player in that bracket as Tottenham’s hitman.
Now a regular for his country, Rice is a sure starter alongside Kane when the delayed Euros kick off this summer.
And the West Ham powerhouse spoke about getting that first call up and what he thought about Tottenham’s number nine.
“The buzz of being in an England camp,” said Rice. “Enjoying training. Everything you have done as a kid to get to this moment. Smiles all around.
“There was a lot of speculation around my first camp and call-up. I wanted to come here and prove I was good enough to stay around in the first-team set-up.
“Harry Kane and Sterling, like then type of players. You watch them in the Premier League up and against them.
“But to see them up close in training, the level was, it was just another level. That’s what it was.”
Well, England fans will be hoping the likes of Rice and Kane can hit serious levels when the Euros come along because they will be needed.
Whether Gareth Southgate opts for two in the middle or three, Rice has to start, ahead of the likes of Kalvin Phillips and perhaps Jordan Henderson, who isn’t fit and is only returning from injury.
Either way, after first donning the colours of the Republic of Ireland, this is now set to be Rice’s first major tournament, with Kane hoping to grab that Golden Boot once more.
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