Declan Rice has revealed how Stuart Pearce took him under his wing on his arrival and the results of his special attention.
The teenager as understandably nervous when David Moyes’ right-hand man, asked for a private chat but then calmed his worries with one sentence.
A relieved Rice said the England former hardman had declared: “I am really looking forward to working with you.”
He added: “I have learned a lot from him. I really took to him after he spoke to me. For a coach to come over and say that to me. And he’s going to keep helping me and I am going to keep listening and learning.”
After being rejected by Chelsea as a 14 year old Rice had been devastated and said: “It was really deflating. I lived ten minutes from the training ground and it was all I ever knew. But you just have to pick yourself up from it and go again.”
Rice ill play a lading role as the Hammers open their FA Cup campaign at Shrewsbury today and said: “We really want to win it.
“When I was a kid, watching it, they talked about the magic of the FA Cup and this is going to be my first game in it. I am really looking forward to it.”