OPINION
West Ham have not had an easy season in terms of injuries this season but at least their problems have had a silver lining in the shape of Declan Rice.
Had the likes of Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez managed to remain fully fit in the early stages of the season the young Hammer, who has become an integral part of the first team in east London, might not have been given the same chances in the side.
Instead his midfield counterparts have been missing for most of the campaign and it has left him free to shine in the middle of the pitch, impressing so much that he earned a call up to the England squad amid the controversy of a change of international allegiance.
Rice would not have necessarily had his eyes on his Three Lions bow at the start of the season but one man who seemingly wants that opportunity is Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, the Mirror claiming that the Hammers are keen on snapping up the midfield maestro in a battle with the likes of Tottenham.
Former West Ham star Dean Ashton seems to believe that a senior England call up is all the 23-year-old wants right now and languishing in the Championship is not going to get him where he wants to be.
He told the Daily Express: ““I think he’ll be desperate [to play in the Premier League], especially looking at the young players that have been picked for England. He’ll be desperate to be one of those that’s given a chance.
“There’s no doubt Jack Grealish will be a Premier League player, whether that’s with Aston Villa next season or without.”
Now West Ham might think that partnering up with Rice – a duo which could star for club and country – could be enough to hand them an advantage in the hunt but when you consider the English talent Tottenham have, the north Londoners can be confident at making the same argument.
Instead, the Hammers have three words up their sleeve which could tilt the battle back in their favour: regular game time.
At Tottenham Grealish would be fighting it out with some of the best that English football has to offer and first team action is by no means a guarantee.
At West Ham, he could quickly establish himself as a crucial cog in the Hammers’ system – much like Rice has done – and in doing so would no doubt catch Southgate’s eye.
If an England cap is what he wants, a partnership with Rice and regular playing time is as good a way to get it.
