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Jamie Carragher believes that West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice could become England captain, per Sky Sports via Football.London.

What’s he said?

Rice enjoyed a breakthrough season under Manuel Pellegrini and has emerged as the best defensive midfield talent available to manager Gareth Southgate.

He picked the 20-year-old to start the Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands on Thursday evening, with the Three Lions losing 3-1 after extra time in Portugal.

And speaking before the game, Carragher tipped Rice to make the midfield position his own along with the armband.

He said: "You talk about captains within the England team, you wouldn’t be surprised to see him as captain in two or three years if he cements that position.

"A few years ago it looked like Eric Dier would have that position for six or seven years, you’re talking about him as a future captain.

"I think now, in 12 months' time, he will be in that holding position and he’ll be our best player in there. There’s still talk of what his best position is and I think it is in there."

The next Bobby Moore

Rice is already revered in east London.

He may have begun his career at Chelsea but since his move to the Irons, the youngster has emerged as perhaps the best talent to come out of their’ academy since the days of Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand.

His growth into an England international has not surprised anyone at the club and there is a feeling that he has the ability to become a legend if he decides to stay for the entirety of his career.

Whether or not that comes true remains to be seen – one feels it is more likely that he will eventually move to a club playing in the Champions League – but Carragher’s prediction may not be too far off.

West Ham have had a number of England icons come through their ranks; Rice may just be the latest to roll off that production line.