Declan Rice said he could not speak highly enough of Harry Maguire as he talked up how much he enjoyed being in the same team as the Manchester United captain.
Reds skipper Maguire missed the end of the domestic season and the first two England games at the European Championship with injury but returned against Czech Republic with a classy display to help Gareth Southgate's side seal top spot in the group.
Rice has experience of playing against Maguire at club level and has also attracted interest from United in the transfer market, although a £90m price tag may scupper any chances of a deal. Whether or not they link up on the pitch every week in future, the West Ham midfielder much prefers having the United man stationed in defence behind him rather than having to face him.
"He's unbelievable. From the first time that I met H here he was top - top with me and top with the lads. He's had a tough year but I think that proves how mentally strong he actually is," said Rice.
"From what he went through to still play games after that, he got sent off and obviously that was a tough point but we still knew how good he was. There was a lot of criticism from fans, pundits and in the media saying is he worthy of playing for England and being Man United captain - the performance the other night shows you that and how he was before his injury at Man United shows you that.
"He's crucial - to us and to Man United. He's a leader, he's strong, he's unbelievable on the ball, he plays great passes into the middle. To play against he's always really tough because you know what you're playing against and to play with he's special.
"He's always talking to you, always giving you the ball and as a holding midfielder him and [John] Stonesy are people that you want behind you because they encourage you and are always trying to give you the ball. They are world class centre-halves. I can't speak highly enough of him, he's just an all-round great top family man."
