Declan Rice considered leaving West Ham last summer, will he do it again?

Jamie Redknapp caught up with the West Ham United midfielder at Forman's, a restaurant close to the London Stadium, just seven days after his England debut to talk about his remarkable rise.

Redknapp: Does playing for this England team feel like being part of a club side?

Rice: It's a club environment. Every one of the staff know what the players want. Gareth gets involved in the training, he makes you feel welcome from the start, his man-management is excellent. He tells you you're doing well or things you need to improve on. You sit down and watch clips. It's top stuff.

Redknapp: I saw the picture of you when you were 14 with Harry Kane.

Rice: That picture was from my first time at St George's Park. When I showed it to him, he couldn't believe it either. We had to grab another for an update!

Redknapp: Did he give you any advice?

Rice: The first day we were training I sat down on the mats and we were having a conversation. He was asking how West Ham was, said that he has watched us quite a bit and me this season, which was nice to hear, said that he likes me as a player which was also good to hear! On the training field I was picking his brains, playing the ball into his feet how he wants it.

Redknapp: I want to talk about your position. I saw you as a centre back. You've got the frame, the size, you're quick and brave… the next John Terry. Then at the start of the season, you found yourself playing central midfield against Liverpool. You were taken off at half-time and, honestly, I thought: 'I don't think he's cut out for midfield.'

Rice: After the Liverpool game, to be honest with you, I didn't think I was cut out for the Premier League. I wasn't in the squad for the next two games, the transfer window was still open and I was thinking of going into the manager and maybe go out on loan - but I've just learned the position.

I've watched myself. That Liverpool game, I was doing everything wrong. I wasn't sitting in front of the back four. I was getting attracted to the ball.

I compared it to when we played Liverpool at home. It was two different performances and I think they were only 20 games apart. No one got past me, I was breaking up the play. Now I see myself as a midfielder.

Redknapp: I remember going up against Gordon Cowans in a reserve game against Aston Villa just after I'd signed for Liverpool. I was sitting in the dressing room after thinking, 'This isn't for me.' But it was the best experience I could have had. When you have bad games, you have to take them on board.

Rice: That Liverpool game has made me for this season. I knew if I wanted to get to the top level like the Liverpool players there was still so much more work to do.