West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini says Declan Rice deserves his England call-up.

The 19-year-old, who last month switched international allegiances from Ireland, was named in Gareth Southgate's squad for this month's Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Montenegro.

Asked whether he expected Rice's call-up to happen so quickly, Pellegrini said: "Yes, because when you nominate the squad, you must choose the best players in the best performance at that moment, and I think that Declan deserves [the call-up].

"It was a big decision for him to decide which country he was going to play for.

"I think his performance allows him to play at any international competition because he's in a very good moment."