West Ham manager David Moyes says he has told Declan Rice that he can learn a lot from club captain Mark Noble both as a player and leader.
Rice has effectively taken Noble’s place in the team this season, with Moyes opting for a two-man midfield, rather than a three, but ‘Mr West Ham’ still could have a big role to play in his younger teammate’s development.
Moyes wants Noble to be a mentor for Rice and others despite the fact he is no longer a regular fixture in the first team:
“There will be a future here for Mark Noble this year, next year, the year after that and probably years and years after that. He is such a big part of the club. Declan is one of the country’s top players and he’s getting better. I told him that he can learn from Mark Noble on and off the pitch.”
Rice has been heavily linked with a January move to Chelsea but Moyes makes it clear that he feels the 21-year-old still has much to learn and should continue his development under the wing of Noble.
It’s unlikely that Rice will become a one-club man like the Irons captain but the player’s career would definitely benefit from staying at the London Stadium and continuing his apprenticeship.
