West Ham captain Declan Rice says his centre-half days are over.
Rice started his first team career in central defence but quickly progressed into midfield and has become one of the best in the Premier League, even hailed as the world's best in his position by former Chelsea and England man, John Terry.
However, some critics still label the 22-year-old as a limited centre-back despite his evolution to holding midfield and now a box-to-box player, with three goals and three assists in all competitions this season.
"It's laughable," said Rice. "I think you can see in my game I'm never a centre-back. I feel like I've got too much ability to be playing at the back.
"I want to be progressive and athletic. I feel like I can do that in a midfield sense. I feel like now I'm not just a holding midfielder anymore.
"I was always labelled as one that just sits in front of the back four, I really now want to see myself as a box-to-box player where I can get up and down and start creating things as well as getting back and helping the team as well. There is still a long way to go and I can improve so much.
"I feel like as I've progressed and got taller, stronger and better on the ball I've moved into midfield I've built the confidence to play there. Now that is where I feel I influence the game the most. I feel like if I went back to the back I wouldn't have much impact on the game."
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