Danny Murphy has named Declan Rice in his Premier League team of the season made up of players playing outside of the top six.
The West Ham youngster has been in fine form this season, establishing himself as a key figure for the Hammers, and earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England setup as well, making his full debut against Montenegro back in March.
And his efforts have not gone unnoticed, with Murphy electing to put him in his team of the season consisting of players plying their trade outside of the big six.
Murphy’s team of the year was announced by the Daily Mail.
OPINION
Declan Rice has enjoyed the kind of meteoric rise usually reserved for daydreams and comic books. Having convinced manager Manuel Pellegrini of his worth, the academy graduate has done a fantastic job in the engine room for the Hammers this season, and has really established himself as a key figure. Rice is one of those players willing to do the work nobody else will. He tracks runners, breaks up play, makes the simple passes, and his side are much the better for it. His kind of midfield presence will never go out of style, and it would be a marvel if he didn’t go on to have a wildly successful career, based on what he has shown so far. The England call-up, controversial as it may have been, was just the icing on the cake, and the way he slotted so seamlessly into the Three Lions’ setup would suggest that he could be a key component on the international stage of many years to come as well.
