Declan Rice will likely win his first Ireland cap when Martin O'Neill's side take on Turkey in Antalya on Friday evening.
Though a cap will not cement his international future - it is only a friendly game - Rice left little doubt about where his allegiance lies when speaking to the media at the FAI International Awards on over the weekend.
Intriguingly, Rice also spoke about his friendship with John Terry. When Rice was coming through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, Terry was his mentor.
"Me and John Terry are really good friends," Rice is quoted as saying by the Irish Independent's Dan McDonnell.
At 14, Rice was released by Chelsea. It was a devastating blow for the player. Though, his time without a club did not last long. He was let go by Chelsea on a Tuesday. The next day, he was training with Fulham and West Ham a day after. Both wanted him.
"When Chelsea let me go it was really deflating," Rice has said previously about having to change clubs. "For me, as a youngster, it's all I ever knew - living 10 minutes from the training ground, going to loads of the games. It's one of those where you've just got to pick yourself up and go again."
Terry helped him through the heartbreak of having to leave Chelsea.
"When I got released from Chelsea, he gave me a call and we spoke for about 45 minutes. I told him I was going to West Ham.
The support from Terry has lasted beyond that phone call.
"He was my idol growing up and to ask him a load of questions and for him to answer them back, I'll always remember that call.
"We live locally to each other and now and then we meet up. We met the other day and we had a catch-up, and he's always going to help me and pass on his experiences."
Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
