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Declan Rice: 'I am not just a holding midfielder anymore'

:Headline: Declan Rice: 'I am not just a holding midfielder anymore':
West Ham United's Declan Rice reveals that he now sees himself as a box-to-box midfielder rather than someone who "just sits in front of the back four".
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West Ham United's Declan Rice has revealed that he now sees himself as a box-to-box midfielder rather than someone who "just sits in front of the back four".

The 22-year-old England international has been given the licence to roam further forward for club and country this campaign, which has seen him score four goals and provide three assists as a result, three more goal contributions than in the whole of last season.

Rice is keen to improve his all-round game as a complete midfielder and while he has mentioned Premier League icons Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure as players who he idolises, he also has ambitions to reach the same heights as current Manchester City duo Rodri and Fernandinho, who he has labelled as "top players".

"I want to be progressive and athletic. I feel like I can do that in a midfield sense. I feel like now I'm not just a holding midfielder anymore," Rice told football.london.

"I was always labelled as one that just sits in front of the back four, I really now want to see myself as a box-to-box player where I can get up and down and start creating things as well as getting back and helping the team as well. There is still a long way to go and I can improve so much."

Rice added: "Vieira and Yaya are the ones [I looked up to]. Look at who you're playing against here. Rodri and Fernandinho are top, top players on and off the ball, and you want to reach those kind of levels as well."

As captain, Rice has played every minute in the Premier League for West Ham this season, as well as featuring four times in the Europa League. body check tags ::

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
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