Declan Rice has spoken out on the praise and advice he received from England captain Harry Kane during his first international break with the Three Lions.
The West Ham midfielder was joining up with Gareth Southgate’s squad for the first time since he switching international allegiance from the Republic of Ireland, and was immediately welcomed by the Tottenham striker.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Rice said: “We sat down on a mat in the gym and I was speaking to Harry Kane.
“He said: ‘You’ve had such a great season, I’ve watched West Ham, I like the way you play. Be confident when you come in here and do your best’.
“Straight away, to hear that from the captain, that’s what you want to hear.”
OPINION
To receive that kind of praise from your new captain, especially when that captain is Harry Kane, must be just about the biggest confidence booster that any young player could hope for. It’s easy to see why Kane has been so impressed though. There was almost a sense of boring inevitability about Rice’s England call up. Obviously he was going to get the nod, and obviously he was going to thrive, but that doesn’t mean that he and the fans shouldn’t enjoy it any less. Rice has the potential to be the lynchpin of that midfield for the best part of the next decade and a half, and it made absolute sense to get him in and around the side as quickly as possible. Against Montenegro in particular, making his full debut, he showed a maturity and presence far beyond his years, and his willingness to do the dirty work in the engine room will make him an invaluable player for Southgate’s boys.
