When Declan Rice was preparing to make his England debut nobody was better placed among his West Ham United teammates to offer advice.
Fellow West Ham midfielder Jack Wilshere has been there and done that with England.
The injury-ravaged boyhood Hammer would have known exactly how Rice was feeling going into the England set up.
After all Wilshere has played 34 times for England, scoring twice. Indeed the former Arsenal man still has designs on getting back in the national team.
No message from Wilshere, but why?
But no advice, or messages of goodwill were forthcoming from Wilshere as Rice played in 5-0 and 5-1 wins over Czech Republic and Motenegro.
Did he forget to wish his fellow West Ham midfielder well. Or was he a touch jealous?
Well according to Wilshere himself it was very much intentional.
Speaking to West Ham’s official website he explained why he opted against contacting Rice.
Wilshere ‘thought about it, but decided not to’
“I thought about texting him the other day, before Friday, but I decided not to, because there will have been so many people messaging him,” Wilshere told whufc.com.
“I know what it is like when you’re preparing for your England debut.
“He will have just wanted to focus on the game.
‘He has done us all proud’
“I’m really happy for him that he got some game time, because I believe he is the best player in his position in the country right now.
“He has done us proud, his family proud, and himself proud. I’m happy for him.”
No sour grapes here. Only carefully considered Hammers love.
Wilshere will be back training alongside Rice when he returns from the England fold this week.
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