West Ham United’s recent defeat to Leicester City saw stalwart Declan Rice continue his fine form in the new season, with the England mainstay having recorded a 7.1 SofaScore rating which maintains him as their highest-rated player in the Premier League thus far.

The ever-dependable midfielder has been a consistently stunning fixture in the Hammers engine room, with his promotion to captain thoroughly deserved despite still being just 23 years old.

Compared and even preferred to the legendary Roy Keane by Stuart Pearce at the start of the year, the 6-foot star – who already boasts 215 appearances for the Hammers – has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the years, having earned his debut during the 2016/17 campaign under Slaven Bilic.

The season following would see him truly breakthrough, earning 26 appearances in the league and having finally realised his dream as a youngster in the academy.

A physical monster in the middle, he took his chance to exhibit his professionalism and ability to not only break up play but to distribute it with ease.

The hope will be that young Conor Coventry can replicate the path taken by his teammate, to force his way beside him and into David Moyes’ plans as a regular starter.

The 22-year-old has already made ten senior appearances over four seasons, outlining that the Irish ace has been in the thinking of many managers.

However, it is this current campaign that he seems to have finally shed the youth setup and will be handed increased involvement with the first team. He is yet to play a game for any side other than the seniors so far.

He has earned praise for his recent exploits in the Europa Conference League, where Moyes has handed him the bulk of his playtime. With an average SofaScore rating of 7.2, it seems that he is taking that chance with both hands.

His cultured display against FCSB in particular earned plaudits, as he showed maturity in a side full of youngsters. Coventry would average a 90% pass accuracy whilst making four interceptions, two tackles and a key pass, via SofaScore.

Only a week earlier had ExWHUEmployee led the way for his admiration, commending his “excellent performance” where he had been “very professional” in the same competition.

Clearly a pass-master who can dictate the tempo whilst also neutralising opposition attacks, this youngster is certainly worthy of the label “exciting talent” that Roshane Thomas bestowed upon him.

With Irish roots too, the comparisons with Rice are never-ending.

Should he boast anything similar to his ability in the coming years, it could mark another sensational product of their infamous academy.