West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini says Declan Rice is good enough to play for England.

Pellegrini was asked about Rice's international situation after their Carabao Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.

"Declan has a big problem," said Pellegrini. "But I think that his heart must decide if he feels more Irish or more England.

"Maybe for him it can be more easy to play for Ireland but if you trust in yourself and feel that you are an English player...

"It is a personal decision. It is very difficult to give advice but I am always speaking with him because he is young and he has a big future. I speak with him about a lot of different issues.

"He is a player that is completing his development in a physical way. He is a strong player, a good technical player. With England, he will have big competition but I think he is able to take that challenge - that's without me giving him a decision. He must take the decision himself."