DANNY MURPHY: Declan Rice is learning fast and desperate to improve

At 22, Declan Rice has the football world at his feet with West Ham riding high and England bidding for European Championship glory this summer. Put enough pace on the ball, they struggle to get down.’ Rice was pulled up by his manager David Moyes earlier in his career for costing West Ham a goal in a game versus Arsenal, but he claims he took it on the chin and it is the best way to learn A lot of modern football is based around numbers so I’m glad Declan does not seem to be obsessed by adding goals. One of Moyes’ biggest achievements has been to find the right blend of youth — Declan and Ben Johnson — and experience — Craig Dawson and Czech pair Thomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal. ‘After the Sheffield United game when we went joint-fourth, he’s told us there are 14 games to go and we need to be looking at a European spot,’ says Declan. Rice points out former Manchester City midfielder David Silva as the player he has found hardest to compete against during his career ‘You can take your mind off pretty much anything when you are having a round of golf,’ says Declan.