John Stones has had his critics since becoming a Manchester City player in 2016, but former Sunderland striker Niall Quinn thinks that a certain West Ham United defender shares similar characteristics.
Declan Rice has started to attract attention this season by making 18 Premier League appearances and showing his versatility at the London Stadium.
The 19-year-old has featured in the defensive line and as a defensive midfielder, and like Stones, the youngster has the ability to play out from the back.
Rice has also caught the eye on the international stage as he was handed his first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland in the team’s 1-0 defeat to Turkey.
Stones may have plenty of competition for a starting place in Pep Guardiola’s City team, but he is just two wins away from becoming a Premier League champion.
The former Everton player is also expected to be included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup in Russia this summer.
While speaking to the Irish Sun, Quinn drew comparisons to Stones while discussing Rice’s rise.
“It is very hard to say now but the way the game has gone, it is a real gift to have a player who can defend and play football. How far is he away from John Stones, for instance, who was transferred for £50 million?
“For me, he can already do a lot of what John Stones can do. Where in an Irish jersey does that put him? I think there is a flexibility there that we have not had since Paul McGrath was around. Rice looks the part, he moves well, his feet are good, his positioning is very good off the ball. And he is not afraid to get stuck in.”
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