Declan Rice has spoken of his pride of captaining West Ham as we head into the final third of a positive season with a top 4 finish in the crosshairs.

Rice has been in exceptional form this season and it’s lead many in the game to link the England midfielder to a move to a bigger club, however Rice has talked up the amazing feeling to being West Ham captain whilst describing the club as massive.

“I’m really proud,” said Rice. “It’s a really good thing to do. Obviously when Mark Noble doesn’t play I have the armband and it’s a real privilege and it’s an honour to captain West Ham.

“It’s a massive Club and to walk out at London Stadium, especially with how well we’re doing at the minute, is really good and a real positive so it’s an amazing feeling.”

The club have been eager to push on from a very successful season in the last campaign, and Declan has emphasised that the club are on track to do that.

“The season is going really well so far. We’ve played a lot of games and we’re fourth in the Premier League, which is a real positive. After the season we had last year, when we got Europa League, we said this year that we wanted to push on and we’ve done that.

“We’re in the last 16 of the Europa League, we’re in the last 16 in the FA Cup and we’re strong in the Premier League, so so far it’s looking really positive and there’s still a lot to play for.”

Although Rice has received many plaudits for his performances this season, the talisman is eager to improve on his game in helping the club push on further.

“I feel like I can score more goals, definitely. I feel like I can get forward more and feel like I can impact games more with passes and attacking outputs.

“I get into good positions in games and sometimes I pass the ball where top players of the past would have shot and scored, so I feel adding goals to my game is somewhere I can improve.

“I just have more confidence this season. I know my ability and what I can do on the football pitch and I think since the Euros in the summer I’ve gained a lot of confidence on the pitch and it’s helped me out.

”When I’m on the pitch with West Ham, I’m always out there trying to do my best to help the team out defensive and to try to score some goals and luckily enough I’ve been able to do that this season.”