Stuart Pearce has got it painfully wrong with his claim about West Ham United and England star Declan Rice ahead of the World Cup.
The 23-year-old has been in sensational form for the Hammers and England over the past few years, and has firmly established himself as one of the very best central midfielders in world football.
Rice actually began his youth career as a central defender but was converted into a midfielder by ex-West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini four years ago.
And since then, Dec has gone from strength to strength. He plays nigh on every single game for club and country, and relishes doing so.
Declan Rice will play a key role for West Ham this season, and he will for England at the World Cup out in Qatar as well.
The 23-year-old is the heartbeat of England’s midfield, but a new role has been proposed for him by someone who knows him very well indeed…
Stuart Pearce makes Declan Rice World Cup claim
The former Hammers coach is now doing plenty of work in the media after leaving the London Stadium at the end of last season.
And Pearce has been speaking to talkSPORT about the West Ham skipper.
The former Hammers coach suggested that Declan Rice might be used as a central defender by Gareth Southgate at the World Cup out in Qatar:
I think he’ll be, as one of a three, I think he’ll be outstanding. Dave’s put him there in Europe this year, I’ve spoken to Dave about it and Dave said he was fantastic. Took the ball from the back, built up play from the back, he’s quick, he’s got everything. If you looked at what one of a central three centre-halves would be, someone who is going to take the back – on occasion as well step into midfield with the ball and without the ball. And understand when to do it, I think he would be an absolutely ideal [option] as one of the three central defenders. But listen, Dec wants to play in midfield at the moment, when he gets a little bit tired and his legs go in a couple of years time maybe.
In my opinion, this is well wide of the mark by Pearce, mainly because if Rice moved back into defence, England would really miss his quality, energy, power and dynamism in the middle of the park.
In fact, the last time that he played at centre-back domestically for West Ham was against Everton in the Carabao Cup two seasons ago, and he really didn’t impress at all.
The 23-year-old is at his best when he’s on the front foot, dictating the tempo of the game from midfield.
Declan Rice will be hugely important for England at the World Cup this winter. And Garteh Southgate moving him into the back three would be a huge mistake in my opinion.
Read also:
Huge blow for Moyes as West Ham star’s link with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe emerges
‘Special’: Declan Rice says £32 million West Ham star is ‘just on another level’
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
