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West Ham United's Declan Rice has named his top five Premier League midfielders in an interview with BT Sport - but didn't included his best friend Mason Mount!

Unsurprisingly four of Rice's five selections come from teams chasing a Champions League spot, even though England midfielder Mount was not included on his short list.

However there was one surprise with the inclusion of one of the leading lights in Brighton & Hove Albion's constantly-improving squad - as you may see below.





Declan Rice: My top five

Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea): "He's incredible. You don't really realise how good he is until you play against him. He can take the ball in tight areas, his dribbling ability is incredible, he can find a pass and control games. He's always been a tough opponent to play against."

Bernardo Silva (Man City): "He's so, so good. For someone that's so small, he's got a tenacious side to him with the way he presses and defends for his team. With the ball, he's like a magician. I speak to Man City's England boys when we go away and they say he's one of the best players they've ever played with."

Rodri (Man City): "A great player, the way he is to that Man City side. He's got that Spanish side to him where he keeps the ball and constantly knows his next pass. It took him a little bif of time to adapt to the Premier League but now he's a real, top player. And he doesn't mind a little spiteful yellow card every now and then!"

Paul Pogba (Man Utd): He gets criticised but he's one of the top three players I've ever played against. He's just so strong, so good on the ball, can take the ball with a crazy amount of pressure and get out of it with an unbelievable bit of skill. He knows how to play one and two touch and can play long passes. He's so, so good and I think you see the best of him when he plays for France."

Yves Bissouma (Brighton): Every time we've played against Brighton, the way they pass the ball, Graham Potter's got them playing unbelievable football and Bissouma is a really great player. When you play against him you see what he's like - he's strong in the tackle, can bring the ball forward and find a pass. He's got a bit of flair about him as well. He's consistent as well."




Meanwhile it has been revealed how Rice is leading Premier League charts for 'progressive yards carried' - by some considerable margin.

According to TheOther14, which keeps track of statistics relating to top flight clubs outside of the stablished 'big six', West Ham's skipper has carried the ball forward almost one thousand yards more than his nearest competitor, Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin who will be part of the Newcastle team to visit the London Olympic Stadium this weekend.




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