Michael Owen played over 200 games alongside Steven Gerrard and is therefore worth listening to when he speaks of Declan Rice’s virtues and the similarities he bears to the former Liverpool midfielder.
Few would argue that Gerrard was one of the finest in the game so praise doesn’t come much higher than to be compared with the now Villa boss by one of his former team-mates.
Owen was keen to congratulate Jarrod Bowen after his performance against Hungary last night (Sat) on Channel 4 but before the game he was discussing the Hammers skipper and the impact he has made since he burst onto the scene.
He said: ‘I think that sitting midfield role is a very disciplined role, I played with one of the best in terms of Steven Gerrard.
‘But he’s actually a bit too good to sit and be disciplined. He’s almost better than a sitting midfielder. But he does show signs of a Steven Gerrard.
‘Big, powerful, a very good passer of the ball so he’s actually not just a sitting midfielder anymore. He breaks the game up so well, now he’s adding those long runs to his game.
‘He’s becoming a more all-round player.’
To be compared with Gerrard is about as high as it gets but few would argue that all the signs are there and that Declan is surely odds-on to go on and become and England captain.
And he has also shown that nothing – even words such as these puts pressure on his young shoulders – a true star and maybe Stevie Gerrard Mk 2 in the making.