West Ham United’s Declan Rice has been tipped as a future Republic of Ireland captain by retiring skipper John O’Shea.
Rice’s outstanding season with the Irons has seen the 19-year-old earn three full caps for Ireland this campaign, the most recent of which was a Man of the Match performance in a 2-1 win over the USA on Saturday.
The versatile defender is a future captain of the national side, according to O’Shea, and Rice was delighted to receive high praise from the five-time Premier League winner.
Asked about O'Shea's comments, Rice said: “He's been at the top of the game and played with some top, top players. I don't like to take it on too much, but it's nice to hear. I've had a little joke with him.
“Maybe one day I do see myself as a future captain because I do have it in me to tell people and order people around.”
I would never have thought at the start of the season I would go on to play this many games. That's down to the managers believing in me and also my team-mates, giving me the ball and letting me express myself.
Declan Rice
Rice’s standout performance on Saturday caps an impressive campaign that saw the teenager play 31 times in all competitions for West Ham this season, including showings in 18 of the Club’s final 19 Premier League matches.
“I would never have thought at the start of the season I would go on to play this many games,” he continued. “That's down to the managers believing in me and also my team-mates, giving me the ball and letting me express myself.”
Rice also revealed that he has been in contact with Hammers captain Mark Noble, despite the Premier League season ending last month, with the skipper calling the youngster to check on his progress during international duty.
Rice added: “Mark Noble has been outstanding with me and has called me up while I've been here checking on me, I can't thank him enough.
“Martin (O’Neill) believed in me here too and the players have also put trust in me, giving me the ball and letting me express myself. I've really enjoyed it and I can't wait to do it more.”
Having enjoyed an excellent first full year in the West Ham senior team, Rice recalled a tough afternoon early on in the season that he believes has been a huge help in the long-term.
A 3-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle in August saw Rice substituted at half-time, but the teenager has learned a lot from that game.
“That day was tough for me. I gave the ball away and got pulled off at half-time,' he added. “But I've got a strong mentality and I try to play the ball as much as I can.
“I've come on leaps and bounds since then. It was a good thing it happened, on reflection. If you're not making mistakes then you're not learning. I didn't want it to happen, of course, but it's all part of making yourself a top player.”