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West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is officially eligible to represent England, after FIFA rubber-stamped the decision.
FIFA have confirmed that his eligibility has switched from the Republic of Ireland to the Three Lions and he is subsequently available for selection by manager Gareth Southgate.
A spokesman for the world governing body told BBC: “Fifa can now confirm that the change of association of Declan Rice from Republic of Ireland to England has been approved.”
Having played three friendlies for Ireland – they do not count against a player changing his eligibility if he is of dual-heritage – the 20-year-old already has international experience.
And at West Ham, he has blossomed into perhaps the best defensive midfielder in the country.
His performances against Arsenal and Liverpool certainly suggest that he is more than ready to jump into Southgate’s XI.
That would likely mean that Eric Dier is shunted to the side but that is no bad thing in the long-run; Rice’s manager, Manuel Pellegrini, certainly believes that he should be in the starting XI sooner rather than later.
Football.London quote him as saying at the end of February: “I think that he is ready to play for England and I think that we are just starting the development of him as a player but at this moment his performances is better than every holding midfielder [in England].”
The Chilean is not wrong and, with the international break looming, the time for Rice’s debut is nigh.
Southgate will name his squad next week. It would be an aberration if the midfielder is not included in it.
The Three Lions’ talent pool is as perhaps as deep as it has ever been but Rice is a young player who has the ability to make a genuine impact at that level.
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England’s weakest position is inarguably defensive midfield – Dier is immobile and prone to lapses in judgement, while Jordan Henderson, of Liverpool, is an old-fashioned water carrier. Rice is more than that, he is dynamic, an excellent passer of the ball, and clean in the tackle.
Bringing him in for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro is a low-risk-high-reward strategy.
England should win both games – they are, after all, one of the four best teams in the world – and Rice will surely improve them.
His versatility will appeal too; he can play at centre-back and effectively fills two spots in one call-up.
If it doesn’t work immediately, it can be put down to growing pains as Rice continues to improve week-on-week.
It would be remiss of Southgate to ignore him at this stage, and England will surely be all the better for his selection.
