West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has claimed that Declan Rice has only just gotten started.
The 20-year old midfielder-cum-defender has been a revelation for the Hammers this season.
Despite having featured heavily for the club last season, it is the current campaign that has seen the former Ireland international come into his own at the London Stadium, and he has deservedly earned his England call-up, following his switch of international allegiance.
And teammate Ogbonna has backed Rice to make an immediate impact in an England shirt, claiming that Rice is constantly improving and developing. Talking to West Ham’s official website, the Italy international said:
I did expect it to happen so quickly. Dec has a lot of quality and I’m very, very happy for him. This is just the beginning for him and I wish him the best of luck.
I’m not surprised to be fair because everybody can see his quality. He is a talented player, but first of all I think he is a humble player, a humble person, so he deserves this and I wish him the best of luck for everything. He has to keep his feet on the ground and continue in this way.
He can read the game, he is very good on the ball, as a centre half he can keep the ball at his feet and he can give the team the balance. He has many qualities as a young player and he has to keep working and improving.
I think he has to work hard, like he has done all this time. He is a good talent and I think he’s ambitious as well, and that is very important at this level. With talent and quality, I think he can be successful for England.
