Rice gets a warning

Declan Rice has been told to prepare for some changes in his football life as he comes towards the end of this 2018/19 campaign .

After an incredible season – capped by the highest honour – the Hammers star could find himself getting a lot more attention from opponents.

His rise has been phenomenal but for Hammers star Tony Cottee has made it clear that with the world becoming more and more aware of his abilities he could come under more pressure.

It’s a timely warning but one that his manager and those around him have no doubt been pressing on him.

He isn’t of course in the same situation as a striker where he could find himself being seriously marked but of course he will find himself getting more attention.

His send full season will be more testing but one that most would expect him to cope with given his calm and composed approach to the game.

Cottee, talking to the club’s official website, said: “He will notice that the approach of his opponents towards him may be different from now on – he will naturally earn more respect and with that comes greater scrutiny and attention. “Other players will attempt to put him off his game, but that is all part of his development and learning.

“To use an analogy, your career as a footballer is like climbing a mountain… Declan is still in the early stages of his climb, and there will be difficult tests and challenges ahead for him, but everything I have seen of him so far makes me very confident that he will make it to the very top.”