By Dave Langton

West Ham are crossing their fingers and hoping that Declan Rice won’t be picked for England action over the next few days.

The Three Lions are set to play Switzerland and Ivory Coast in back-to-back friendlies as they continue their preparations for the 2022 World Cup at the end of the year.

Rice has been through the wringer with the Hammers and remains the most important player at the club, captaining the side with regularity and spearheading our charge towards European football.

Indeed, he has already made 38 appearances in all competitions, a full league season’s worth.

So the last thing that the Irons need is for Declan to be put through another 180 minutes while on international duty.

Gareth Southgate has picked a 24-man squad and there are other options in central midfield: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount and James Ward-Prowse.

The hope at the London Stadium is that Southgate will call on those players rather than Declan, as he knows exactly what the Hammer is all about.

He hardly needs to prove himself in two friendlies!

West Ham want him on the bench, and with no extra minutes going into his legs, so he comes back fresh as a daisy for the clash with Everton.