West Ham United would be in ‘serious bother’ without Declan Rice according to Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson.
Eddie Howe’s side drew 1-1 with the Hammers at the weekend, on what was a disappointing night for the Magpies. It was a flat performance from Newcastle, with a draw a fair result on the balance of play.
It was probably a better point for West Ham than it was Newcastle, and it leaves David Moyes’ side one point clear of the bottom three.
They are embroiled in a relegation battle right now, which is a huge surprise given how strong they have been in recent seasons.
But Moyes and co are currently looking to avoid the drop, and Wilson has made a big claim about West Ham in the aftermath of Saturday’s game.
Callum Wilson says West Ham would be in trouble without Declan Rice
Speaking on the Footballer’s Football Podcast, Wilson was quick to heap praise on his England teammate Rice, before making a big claim about the 24-year-old.
“One thing I will say is that Declan Rice was very good,” he said.
“Really, really good performance and player. I’m just giving credit where it’s due!
“Without Dec, you boys would be in serious bother. He broke up second balls, he was winning 50/50’s and carrying it up and driving forward. He’s helped you a lot, gives you a platform to build from.”
Hammers forward Michail Antonio was not too happy with Wilson’s comment, and quickly fired back.
“Dec is quality, but you can’t disregard the rest of the team,” he said.
“We have Paqueta controlling play in midfield, because we controlled a lot of the play. Our back three to be fair, first three minutes you had opportunities and other than that you didn’t have that much more.”
West Ham already in ‘serious bother’
Antonio was very entitled to take issue with what Wilson said. They are far from a one-man team, even if Rice was the best player on the pitch on Saturday. There were various players in a claret shirt who performed well, and it contributed to a difficult night for Newcastle.
But perhaps the 30-year-old does have a point. The Hammers are currently 17th in the league, one point clear of the bottom three. They are embroiled in a relegation battle, and that is with a midfielder reportedly worth £120million playing every week. Imagine if he wasn’t there!
There is a very real chance that West Ham could be playing Championship football next season. They are enduring an incredibly difficult campaign, with survival now their only ambition.
But with a player of Rice’s quality, they will have confidence that they can survive. He is a top class player, and proved it at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Newcastle have been linked with Rice
While West Ham struggle, Rice continues to be linked with a move away from the London Stadium.
Moyes has recently claimed that it will take a British record fee to secure his signature, which might rule Newcastle out of the race to sign him.
The Magpies have been tentatively linked, with the Guardian claiming last year that Howe’s side could make a move if they qualify for the Champions League. That remains a possibility as we move into the second half of the season.
Rice certainly proved on Saturday that he would be a top class addition to Howe’s squad, and Wilson was massively impressed – so much so that he thinks West Ham would be in deep trouble without him.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
