Declan Rice has been spotted at the West Ham friendly against Fulham despite being granted some deserved holiday time.
Given the absolute mammoth workload Rice has taken on for West Ham and England over the last two years, nobody could begrudge him some time off.
After his World Cup heartbreak with England, Rice was granted 10 days off by West Ham boss David Moyes.
With the Hammers just one point off the bottom three, the midfield talisman and his leadership skills will be needed more than ever when domestic action resumes on Boxing Day at league leaders Arsenal.
Pictured: Declan Rice spotted at West Ham friendly despite being granted deserved holiday time
Rather than sunning himself somewhere and putting his feet up, though, Moyes’ main man has showed his class today.
Because Rice has been spotted at the West Ham friendly despite being granted deserved holiday time.
Pictures showing Rice watching on from the stands at Craven Cottage have been posted on social media by West Ham insider Sean Whetstone, courtesy of Hammers fan Richard Dodds.
Rice can be seen keeping warm in a beanie hat and with his legs covered with a blanket as he watches his West Ham teammates from the stands.
Not surprising given he has just returned from the extreme heat of Qatar to the freezing conditions in London.
“Hammer Declan Rice back from the World Cup watches the Hammers from the Fulham’s Craven Cottage. Photo credit @doddsy35,” Whetstone posted on Twitter alongside the pictures.
Fair play to Rice. Nobody would have begrudged him a break on a beach somewhere with his young son and family. And he was not due back until next Tuesday or Wednesday.
Instead he is there in the freezing cold watching his team in their last friendly before West Ham head to the Emirates.
He is showing just why he is captain and very much taking up the mantle from Mark Noble, who will be back at the turn of the year as sporting director.
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