Gareth Southgate’s heavy hint that Declan is likely to get an England captaincy appointment becomes easier and easier to believe as more information links out of the international camp.

For apart from admiring his huge his abilities on the pitch, Dec has become amazingly popular among his Three Lions team-mates given his down to earth approach to life.

And it seems that part of that is about his love of West Ham as he demonstrates without any problem whatsoever and continues to give hope that he is soon ready to sign a new deal at the club.

We are very fortunate that beyond his ability week in week out – most of us have scored him as high as 10 and never lower than seven week in week out which frankly in extraordinary – he appears to becoming closer and closer to us all as a Hammer.

Now possibly the nation’s top football writer Henry Winter has given another insight into the guy’s off the pitch connection to West Ham and England and we love it.

The Times Chief Football Writer Henry Winter, in his recent article wrote:  “There’s an honesty and hunger to Rice, no surprise with Noble a guiding light close by.

“He’s down to earth, reporting to St George’s Park last week with his kit in West Ham carrier bags. He’s hugely popular within the squad, partly because of his humour and grounded nature and, of course, his talent.”