Declan Rice’s futureat international level may no longer be as a defensive midfielder according to Jamie Redknapp.
The Hammers star has come in for much criticism after a poor performance against the Czech Republic and harsher critics were on his case before that.
But Redknapp reckons what would be a ‘back to the future ‘ role for the 20 year old could solve his international problems.
It doesn’t of course take a great leap of imagination to conclude that this is a young man who has dual role possibilities within his compass.
And with England short of quality defenders to sit alongside Harry Maguire right now there looks more than a possibility that Declan could do that job.
It is of course where he started life in West Ham’s under 23s, captaining the team from the back before showing his versatility by doing a top job at Premier League level in the defensive midfield role.
And those who know his game well have raised the question in the past as to whether that’s where he will eventually end up for us.
Writing in the Daily Mail Redknapp concluded: ” Is Declan Rice the answer to England’s problems in defence? I suspect he could be.
“I see a centre back in the 20-year-old and that is where his future could lie for club and country, rather than being used solely in midfield.
“In the modern game, players are being told to pass it out from the back, and Rice is capable of executing that. He’d be more than happy to get on the ball and has the intelligence needed to form an effective centre back partnership.
“He ranks fourth for interceptions and seventh for ball recoveries (in the Premier League). I believe he could apply those talents to central defence, too, while being the proficient passer Gareth Southgate wants.”