Declan Rice has dismissed concerns over his fitness workload, insisting he can once again handle more than 60 appearances this season despite Arsenal's growing caution following his struggles with injury during the World Cup.
The 27-year-old made 69 appearances for club and country last term, but it later emerged he had been playing through discomfort from neural back and hamstring issues, stemming from a hamstring injury sustained in December. He is understood to have received a pain-killing injection to manage the problem during the tournament. Arsenal are said to be keeping a close eye on his workload this season, particularly after he returned to training just three weeks after the World Cup concluded, ahead of the Community Shield.
Rice has since featured prominently for Arsenal, coming off the bench against Manchester City in Cardiff before starting in every fixture since, including the full 90 minutes of Wednesday's Champions League win away at Napoli. Notably, it was Mikel Merino who was substituted for Bruno Guimarães in that match rather than Rice, despite the Brazilian's £75m arrival from Newcastle being partly designed to ease the England midfielder's burden.
Despite the club's apparent concern, Rice remains adamant that his body can cope with the physical demands of a long campaign, pointing to his track record of consistently high appearance numbers stretching back to his West Ham days.
"I think for the last six seasons, even since my West Ham days when they were in Europe, I've played 60-plus every season," Rice said. "So I think it is sustainable because I've shown that I can do it. It's just about maintaining it, maintaining the level and the consistency of the performances. For me, that's the main thing, showing up every week, giving a good account of myself and helping the team win. I've been lucky enough to be able to do that. So I'm really hungry to be able to do that again this season."
Arsenal reportedly offered Rice additional time off following his World Cup exertions, but he was eager to return in time for the start of the new season. He is expected to be included in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia, though it remains uncertain whether he will play in all four matches. Arsenal are likely to push for Rice, along with Bukayo Saka, to be given further opportunities to rest during the international break.
Reflecting on the toll the World Cup took on him, Rice admitted the experience had been difficult but stressed he now feels rejuvenated. "I feel really good at the minute, in really good form, so we'll make it continue," he said. "I think everyone knew I had an issue with a neural hamstring. But also on top of the Premier League season, which was so demanding, the Champions League, to then play a World Cup in that heat really does take its toll. I'm a player that goes on the pitch, wants to be fresh and give 100% every time I put on an England shirt. Yes, there were stages where I felt really, really good and stages where I didn't feel so good. There were a few things that frustrated me, just with myself, just not feeling 100%. It's one of those things I just had to manage."
Rice's rigorous schedule comes amid a landmark personal recognition, as he has been nominated for the Ballon d'Or alongside fellow Englishmen Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. The award ceremony, usually held in Paris, will instead take place in London on 26 October as a tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner of the award in 1956. Rice has thrown his support behind Kane to become the first English winner since Michael Owen claimed the honor in 2001.
"I would love to see Harry win it," Rice said. "So I'm wishing him all the best in that."
Based on reporting from The Guardian.