Declan Rice is in the news once again in the week England were knocked out of the World Cup thanks to a comment from Graeme Souness.
Souness suggested in the week that Rice might be too limited to be a top midfield player and ultimately, might have to end up being a top centre-half instead.
Those comments, naturally, caused plenty of debate and discussion among both fans and media and it was only natural it would be brought up on TalkSPORT.
But speaking on there today, former England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said he had to disagree with Souness and instead, backed Rice.
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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink backs Declan Rice after Graeme Souness comments
Whenever England go out of a competition there is always a bit of backlash and Rice has simply been picked up here by Souness.
In fairness to the Scot, he did speak highly of Rice as well but suggested as a midfielder, the Arsenal man might not be the very best around.
However, a man who knows him well from England, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, has defended Rice.
“I don’t think that he’s limited. I don’t agree with Graeme. I’ve seen him from close, I’ve seen him in training, I’ve seen him in games,” Hasselbaink told TalkSPORT.
“I think he can be even more dominant by believing more in himself. I think he can also score more goals. I think he can shoot more at goal. Those kinds of things can be added, but have to be put in his mind.
“I do think in this market now, he is a £100million plus player.
“I don’t think that he’s a Rodri, but I also don’t think that he was 100 per cent fit, especially not in the last two matches, because he gives a lot more.
“But then it comes back to, is he still better than the others who are on the bench? And I would say yes.
“So I think he’s a hell of a player. Hell of a player. And I think Arsenal became champions because he was in the team.”
Graeme Souness is completely wrong about Declan Rice
Everyone in world football respects Souness. This is a midfield player who was at the very top of his game for years with Liverpool and Rangers and most midfielders can look at him and take something from his game.
Nevertheless, his comments on Rice are not accurate and Hasselbaink is right to defend the Arsenal man.
Yes, there is a scenario where Rice might well play in defence and he did this with West Ham as a young player at times.
However, given he’s just been the starting midfielder in a title-winning team who also got to the Champions League final, as well as helping England to another World Cup semi-final, you’d suggest Rice is doing just fine in the middle of the park.
Unfortunately, this is the way of the world and like many top players who just come up short, the criticism is going to be there from some.
Arsenal fans, though, know just what Declan Rice is all about and in terms of midfielders, he’s probably the first name on the team-sheet right now.
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