Former West Ham coach Danny Searle has lifted the lid on Declan Rice's problems as a junior player.

Searle was working at the Irons' academy when Rice turned up on trial after he was released by Chelsea.

The Braintree manager recalled to The Sun: “Declan had a bit of baggage - being told at that age you are not going to get a contract, that's hard for an adult to take let alone a 14-year-old.

“But you could see a desire he wanted to be a player, when they come from a big club like Chelsea over to West Ham, there can be a snobbery among some kids.

“He wasn't nailed on to get a scholarship, there were a few at the club who fought his corner because other coaches were unsure of him.

“They were unsure because of the other players coming through like Reece Oxford who was the golden boy at the time.

“Tunji Akinola who is still at the club was the other option and the dilemma was is this fair on Declan as we had already signed two centre halves his age."

He continued: “The turning point for Declan was when we played Arsenal and we asked him play as a holding midfielder.

“We beat them 5-1 at their place and he ran the show, he was hands down the best player on the pitch.

“That is when people really started to take notice of him. Even after the game not everyone was convinced.

“The issue was his position, if he is midfielder, then who will he be up against at the club?

“The same question was applied to the central defenders ahead of him."