There was something entirely symbolic about Joe Cole handing Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi their England match jerseys last night.
This generation’s original wonderkid; Cole knows about coping with teenage hype.
It was fitting then that the recently retired England international played a part in the biggest night of Rice and Hudson-Odoi’s fledgling careers so far.
Rice navigated his way through the same academy as Cole. West Ham always believed Cole was destined for the very top. They were right, though some may argue he never fulfilled his full potential.
Declan Rice also made his first start after switching allegiances from the Republic of Ireland
Their belief in Rice is just as profound. The fact Gareth Southgate chose last night to give the 20-year-old his first international start suggests the England manager’s faith in the young central midfielder is equally as strong.
Rice has already made 63 senior appearances at domestic level for the Hammers. Nothing, however, quite prepares you the pressures of playing for England away from home.
Yet Rice took the night in his stride. There were signs of early jitters, his first touch of the night was heavy - Harry Maguire quickly on the scene to bail out his young team.
It was minor blip, though, on what was largely an impressive full international debut. Not that anyone at West Ham doubted that Rice would take to playing for England like a duck to water. Nor did Southgate.
Rice’s technical ability has never been in question, but it’s his mentality that sets him apart.
Unfazed and unruffled, Rice sat in front of England’s back-four like he’s been playing there for years. Disciplined when he needed to be. Expansive when the opportunities arose. His reading of the game and positional sense defies his age.
With every successful pass, you sensed his confidence grow. Within five minutes he was ordering his team-mates about; urging Michael Keane to pass the ball quicker, for Maguire to give him the ball.
When Keane mistimed a header in the eighth minute, Rice was rapidly on hand to nullify any danger.
