IT’S BEEN A memorable week for 18-year-old West Ham youngster Declan Rice.
The defender made his Premier League debut on Sunday, coming off the bench late on in West Ham’s 2-1 win over Burnley at Turf Moor.
Prior to that momentous day, Rice was named Ireland U17 player of the year in March, in addition to starring for the U19s in the Uefa Elite qualifying round.
Indeed, in the interview above with FAI TV, Rice reveals that Hammers boss Slaven Bilic had people watch him during the aforementioned games, with the coaches in question returning with glowing reports of the promising teenager.
London-born Rice, whose grandparents are from Cork, has now been called up to the senior Ireland squad and will spend three days with the team in their Fota Island training camp — news he describes as “a dream come true”.
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Best of luck to him.He might encourage Mark Noble to reconsider.
@Padraig Too late for Noble, that ship has sailed. If he was interested a few years ago then great but he had plenty opportunities to declare and decided not to pursue it. Always felt like he was holding out for an England call-up…
@Cormac O Neill: Noble was honest from the start that he wanted an England callup. He repeatedly said it and can only be commended for his honesty and decisiveness unlike Grealish and the like.
@Kevin O Sullivan: a
I meant to say and what’s more this kid looks the real deal. You can’t ask for much more of his career so far with his previous accolades and now first call up
@Aaron Buckley: what has happened to Noble. Just curious. Am not a soccer fan.