Declan Rice may be forced to wait for his first England call-up because of FIFA’s complex and lengthy registration processes, according to Sky Sports.
They reports that their cogs only start rolling once a player announces his decision and that the whole process can take anywhere between two and six weeks to complete.
Jack Grealish was apparently in a similar boat in 2016 and it took him five or six weeks to get clearance; Gareth Southgate is expected to name his next squad within a month.
Sky Sports also report that Rice’s impressive form this season has pushed himself into the forefront of Southgate’s mind.
England were reportedly at pains to stress to Rice that declaring to play for the Three Lions didn’t mean he would be an automatic selection.
But his form this term has meant that Southgate does want him in his plans as quickly as possible – that just might not be this latest squad because of FIFA’s red tape and slow bureaucracy.
To celebrate Declan Rice picking to play for England…
SIMPLY RT THIS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN ENGLAND HOME SHIRT WITH ‘RICE 4’ ON THE BACK!!!
Winner will be picked Friday @ 1pm! pic.twitter.com/mYz6leJ3as
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) February 13, 2019
Rice has the quality to rival both Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier in the holding midfield position, in which both men still look a slightly awkward fit – in different ways – despite their superior experience at Champions League and international level.