Jamie Redknapp believes West Ham midfielder Declan Rice can fix England's defensive woes.

Michael Keane's poor form at international level continued in Friday's loss to Czech Republic.

And Redknapp thinks Rice, who operates in midfield for club and country, can do a job alongside Harry Maguire at centre-back.

In his column for the Daily Mail, former Three Lions midfielder Redknapp wrote: "Is Declan Rice the answer to England's problems in defence? I suspect he could be.

"I see a centre back in the 20-year-old and that is where his future could lie for club and country, rather than being used solely in midfield.

"In the modern game, players are being told to pass it out from the back, and Rice is capable of executing that.

"He'd be more than happy to get on the ball and has the intelligence needed to form an effective centre back partnership.

"Watch West Ham and you'll see this young man is excellent at what he does. In the Premier League this season, only two midfielders have made more tackles than Rice.

"He also ranks fourth for interceptions and seventh for ball recoveries. I believe he could apply those talents to central defence, too, while being the proficient passer Gareth Southgate wants."