West Ham midfielder Declan Rice was the late hero as the Hammers edged themselves into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
David Moyes’ side left it late to take the game to extra time before leaving it until the 120th minute to prevent penalties.
Rice – perennially linked with a move to Chelsea and both top-flight Manchester clubs – was the saviour in normal time as the combative ace fired home after bursting into the Kidderminster Harriers area.
Speaking to talkSPORT (Sunday, February 6 7.40am), former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino was full of praise for the Englishman.
He’s still a relatively young man. When he plays the holding midfield role people will say ‘How can you pay £100million?’ – well he’s very good at doing it. I’ve had this conversation with Stuart Pearce but I think there are goals in Declan Rice. He’s got a yard of pace that very few midfielders can stay with. Steven Gerrard was great at breaking, wasn’t as good at getting goals as Frank Lampard, Declan Rice can do all of that. He can defend for you, win the ball and get you goals.
Cascarino went on to say that if West Ham fail to make the Champions League then the ‘superb’ 27-cap England man may need to leave.
Show host Jordan Jarrett-Bryan went on to say that the 23-year-old was ‘on a parallel with Yaya Toure’ with his level of development.
So far this season Rice has scored four times and provided four assists in 29 appearances across all competitions.
READ WEST HAM Verdict
Well, West Ham fans should be used to this by now.
Whilst the gushing praise for the London-born star is welcomed, the inevitable caveat of ‘but he may need to leave’ has become all too familiar.
Set to take over as full-time club captain at the end of the season following Mark Noble’s retirement, the £67.5million valued man has achieved so much as an Iron already.
Add a trophy to the ever-growing list, or that allusive top-four finish, the question about a move won’t arise in the summer.
