---
title: "Virals: Declan Rice applauds performance of West Ham youngster"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/10/28/virals-declan-rice-applauds-performance-of-west-ham-youngster/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-10-28T11:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-10-28T11:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: Declan Rice applauds performance of West Ham youngster

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/10/28/virals-tweet-highlights-alphonse-areolas-unbeatable-record/) star [Declan Rice](https://readwestham.com/2021/10/27/anton-ferdinand-urges-fantastic-declan-rice-to-stay-at-west-ham/) took to social media to hail the performance of teammate Ben Johnson against Manchester City.

The 22-year-old midfielder was absent as David Moyes’ side [eliminated](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58976565) perennial Carabao Cup winners City on penalties.

Watching on, Rice headed to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/_DeclanRice/status/1453474314779508743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1453474314779508743%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hammers.news%2Fclub-news%2Fdeclan-rice-takes-to-twitter-and-raves-about-one-west-ham-player-after-carabao-cup-win%2F) immediately in the aftermath to applaud the display of one Iron in particular.

> Ben Johnson, that’s all. 👏
>
> — Declan Rice (@\_DeclanRice) [October 27, 2021](https://twitter.com/_DeclanRice/status/1453474314779508743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Johnson completed five clearances, one interception, one tackle and two crosses in a 7.20 rated display at the London Stadium ([Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/ben-johnson/914412)).

The 21-year-old has been [called upon recently](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/leistungsdaten/spieler/468002) to supplement the loss of Vladimir Coufal and Ryan Fredericks – staking a claim for a starting berth in the process.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

This was yet another landmark moment in the [development](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/468002) of Johnson’s career.

Dealing with the likes of Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne with [apparent comfort](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYw1QKQsqZw) is an exciting sign indeed.

[Out of contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/profil/spieler/468002) at the end of the season, displays such as this will further endear the club to the idea of tying down the London-born starlet.

West Ham have been built on a conveyor belt of academy graduates, including Rice himself, and will be desperate to see the [£2.7million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-johnson/marktwertverlauf/spieler/468002) ace stay beyond next summer.