Big boost for Rice as Burke goes on loan

Reece Burke is ready to join Bolton on a season-long loan after  Slaven Bilic is believed to have given the nod.

And it is now clear the Hammers central defensive set up will be left in the hands of Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna, James Collins, Declan Rice and Cheik Kouyate in emergencies.

It’s a huge boost for young Rice who skippered the Under 21s to promotion last year and appears to show that Slaven Bilic has decided he will be the fist of the academy products to make a serious impact at senior level.

Burke, meanwhile, will link up again with former Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson at newly-promoted Championship side Bolton after he rejected a queue of Championship clubs who wanted his services.

Burke endured a frustrating campaign last year as his spell at Wigan was limited to 10 league appearances due to a hernia problem.