There we were at the Org pondering the injury to Angelo Ogbonna and it's consequences when someone mentioned "What if Decs gets injured playing for England twice in a short space of time ahead of what is quite frankly going to be a ludicrous fixture schedule?" This is a moot point that no longer has to be faced as it has become academic, Declan Rice has been sent home from the England camp with a non-Covid 'flu related' illness.
England's loss is Hammers gain as Rice will be able to have the rest he needs, as opposed to the rest he doesn't think he needs! With the Og probably unavailable for the rest of the season, Hammers cannot afford to lose any more of their star players through injury, and don't get us started on Mikey Antonio's 'insane' Jamaica Jaunt itinerary that requires travelling in excess of 15,000 miles!
The wheels came off the 'Hammerwagon' last season as a result of Rice picking up a nasty injury playing for England, there are many who say that the club would have qualified for the Champions League had he not been injured, they are probably correct! So Rice's lack of availability is a bit of a blessing, he won't lose his England place just because of missing two games, especially as one of them is essentially a dead rubber and he WILL be rested ahead of the frenzy that awaits him domestically AND in Europe for HIS CLUB!
Anyway, he's got to be around to help his best mate, Chelsea's Mason Mount, recover from some rather serious dental work that made him unavailable for the forthcoming International fixtures, maybe they are just skiving off though? - Ed
Comments
i hope he is skiving
The lad needs a break whether he thinks it or not lets face it at his age we all felt indestructable where as now the bits are falling off the wagon physically and mentally for most lol
Good job too
He's heading for a burn out. I think some people are forgetting he is only 22.