West Ham got their first win of the season today, producing an excellent attacking performance to win 3-1 away to a hapless Everton. It was only their second win at Goodison Park in the last 12 years.
Marko Arnautovic and Andriy Yarmolenko will grab most of the headlines for their goalscoring exploits, but another player stood out for a number of observers. Declan Rice had an incredible display in the middle of pitch.
This game marked his first Premier League appearance since he was substituted at half time in the first game of the season away to Liverpool, and he displayed the skillset and maturity that has made him a coveted player for both the English and Irish national teams.
Despite having already earned three senior caps for the Republic of Ireland, his international future is very much up in the air.
Gareth Southgate has spoken to the player about switching his international allegiances, and his performance today is sure to have captured the England manager's attention. In fact, his assistant Steve Holland was in attendance for the game.
Football fans of all persuasions were quick to praise his performance.
Hope Gareth Southgate is watching, because @_DeclanRice is having a fabulous game
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) September 16, 2018
Declan Rice is absolutely superb. This DM role looks like his position. Complete brick wall. Get his new contract signed now @WestHamUtd
— West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) September 16, 2018
Declan Rice very good for West Ham today. He was well rested, in fairness.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) September 16, 2018
We need to get Declan Rice signed up to a contract, and Gareth Southgate HAS to get him in that squad before he chooses Ireland! Will be a big mistake
— Jack Lebeau 🏴 (@JackLebeau66) September 16, 2018
The Republic of Ireland’s great white hope, Declan Rice, ran that game. Start to finish.
— Flart (@Flart83) September 16, 2018
It is unknown when the West Ham man will make his decision, but he is a player that Ireland surely cannot afford to miss out on. Not only is Martin O'Neill short on midfield options, there is also a lack of promising young players coming through.
There seems to be a negative atmosphere emanating from the Irish squad at the moment, and the uncertainty over Rice's future has certainly contributed to that. With Harry Arter also currently unavailable due to the Roy Keane incident and after shipping a heavy defeat to Wales, the short-term outlook for the team is bleak.
If Rice can be convinced to return to the fold then perhaps the future looks a little brighter. If he chooses to answer the call of Gareth Southgate, it could compound what has the potential to be a dismal period for the Republic of Ireland.
