Pellegrini opens up on Declan

Declan Rice’s name has barely been on off anybody’s lips within the West Ham community over the past two weeks and it will be a mighty relief for the talking to stop and the action to start at Villa tonight.

It seems that despite his tender years every aspect of his decision making process is taken apart and given a weight that quite frankly it really doesn’t warrant.

It really doesn’t seem that long ago that his former academy boss Terry Westley was discussing him as one for the future who had a huge chance of becoming one of the country’s top players.

Terry was right but it’s just as well the lad is a mature individual because some of the criticism he has received could have done him enormous damage.

Instead he is still turning in top performances and handling things pretty well for one so young.

Now Manuel Pellegrini has given an extended view of the defensive midfielder which is timely and important given the regard in which Declan and the squad hold him.

Speaking to reporters the boss said: “Declan is a very young player. He is improving in every game that he plays. He is just 20 years old and with his age, to be England holding midfielder, is an important merit for him and demonstrates the way he plays every game.

You cannot expect players not to make mistakes, of course he will make mistakes, like every player. But the way he is improving, at this moment I think he is the No1 in that position.”

And he has no intention of taking the player out of the spotlight by resting him adding: !At 20 years old you do not know if you are tired or not. You always want to play. For the moment, Declan must continue playing the games.