Former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has opened up about Declan Rice's decision to play for England.

The West Ham United whizkid played in three friendlies for Ireland before switching allegiances to his native England in 2019.

McCarthy told Sky Sports: "How it went down? Well, it went down like a lead balloon! He played three games, I think he scored [in the U21s] and I think he kissed the jersey.

"But players have a choice now. There's another discussion, if you've played once in a friendly game at full international level, should that be you down as an Irish player, an English player, a Scottish player, or whatever it may be? I think it should, once you've played in the national team.

"But if you've got a choice, which he had, and he played in the West Ham team and started flying.

"I went to see him and his dad, and I have to be honest, I didn't say this publicly at the time, but I didn't think he would come with us, I think he was erring on the side of playing with England.

"I was pretty curt with him at the time, and I had to call him back and say: 'Listen, I'm sorry, I wish you well, I hope you have a good career with England and with West Ham,' because it's his choice.

"He never played for me, it's just I was so disappointed that we were losing such a good player!"