“Who is he?” Sam Allardyce takes aim at James McClean over Declan Rice comments

Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan took aim at James McClean after hearing what the Irishman had to say about England midfielder Declan Rice.

“Who is he?” responded Allardyce when asked about McClean’s comments that Rice was “overrated.”

Allardyce appeared alongside Kevin Nolan on the ‘No Tippy Tappy Football’ podcast and was asked about McClean’s comment by presenter Natalie Pike.

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“Who is he,” laughed Allardyce, who was sacked after just 67 days as manager of the England national side in 2017.

“Who is he, James McClean? Who is he?” he continued. “Ask Mikel Arteta… what he (Rice) has done for Arsenal last year.”

“Knowing Dec, that would have just made him laugh and don’t get me wrong, he didn’t have his best game in an England jersey,” Kevin Nolan added.

“But that’s one in… I reckon 60. He’s had one bad game in 60 for England. I thought he’s been brilliant every time I’ve watched him.”

Nolan, who never made an appearance for England was, at one time, rumoured to have the option to declare for Ireland due to family links.

“Just going back to him (McClean). I can’t believe he’s said that and had the cojones to actually say it because Declan Rice is one of the best in the world at what he does,” Nolan said.

Allardyce added: “He (McClean) might be saying that to keep himself popular on the television.”

Nolan went on to say Rice is the “closest thing” he’s seen to former Liverpool and England player Steven Gerrard.

Speaking on RTE for their coverage of the Euros in Germany, McClean commented: “I feel Declan Rice is very overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a very good footballer, but the way the English media wax lyrical about him is completely over the top.

“For me, he’s not world class. To me, world class is someone who gets in every side in the world. I don’t think he does that.

“I don’t think he gets in the Man City side ahead of Rodri. I know Toni Kroos is now retiring, but to me, Toni Kroos is world class. He dictates the game, Rodri dictates the game, I don’t think Declan Rice does that.

“He’s not someone who is going get on the half-turn and play passes forward. He is very good at what he does.”

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