Just days after making his professional debut for West Ham, Declan Rice has been handed his first ever call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland international squad.
The 18-year-old centre-back has earned rave reviews from inside the club for his performances for the U23s this season, being named Young Hammer of the Year as a result.
With injuries mounting, Slaven Bilic gave the youngster his debut for the club during last week’s 2-1 away win at Burnley.
Ireland manager Martin O’Neill hasn’t been sleeping on the teenager and has called him up to his squad for the three-game series of matches in June, consisting of friendlies against Mexico and Uruguay, finishing with a world cup qualifier at home to Austria on June 11th.
Rice has turned out for Ireland’s U17 and U19 sides over the last few years but has yet to even earn an U21 cap despite spending some time training with the squad.
It’s believed that the FAI want to make sure they keep Rice for their own as England were hoping of persuading the defender to switch his international allegiance just like Jack Grealish did.
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