If Declan Rice can learn anything from England colleague Kalvin Phillips, it is to choose your next move very wisely.
The duo became central to England's Euro 2020 hopes, forming a classy partnership at the base of midfield, which put them firmly on the map. Rarely, if ever, had two players who played for West Ham and Leeds commanded key roles in the England set-up.
Fast forward nearly two years however and the dynamic duo are not stalwarts with the Three Lions, at least not as a pair. Rice remains a key member whilst Phillips is hanging on to his England spot. The two men will come up against each other on Wednesday night, but their only interaction could be a post-match handshake.
That is because Phillips decided he didn't want to be a big fish in a small pond, but now finds himself try to swim, not sink at Manchester City. The Leeds academy graduate, hailed as the Yorkshire Pirlo by those at Elland Road, opted to take the plunge in the summer, but it hasn't worked out as of yet.
Phillips has been unable to settle at City, struggling for game time as injury and a lack of fitness hamper his debut campaign. He may well end up with a medal or two come June, but he's contribution has been limited and may well serve as a warning to Rice, who is poised to leave the Hammers this summer with his contract about to enter its final 12 months.
Rice has been at such a level that he could've performed at a top side for several years, but has stuck by a West Ham side that have threatened the top four. Now they are threatened by relegation, although Rice' stock has by no means fallen, and several top sides are after his signature.
It is worth noting that Phillips and Rice were, once, held in the same regard by some of the game's greats. Barcelona boss Xavi told the Times during the last Euros: “I have also been hugely impressed by the two midfielders, Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips. I did not know them that well, but they were superb."
Rice and the Hammers will hope to dent City's title bid whilst boosting their own survival hopes at the same time when they meet at the Etihad. The man wearing No 41 for West Ham will be central to their efforts, but the same cannot be said of Phillips, who is yet to play 90 minutes for City in the league.
He's not made it off the bench in their last two outings and may be left to watch on as Rice attempts to combat Rodri, the man who is keeping Phillips out of the team. It is a lesson the West Ham man is best off taking.
No matter how highly regarded Phillips was, taking on City's midfield anchor for minutes was always going to be a fight he was expected to lose. Rice needs to consider where he may find openings should he seek pastures new.
The midfielder will have to eye gaps at other leading clubs and consider whether he too may spend more time on the bench than he would playing. Liverpool are in need of a midfield refresh and are no longer pursuing Jude Bellingham. Arsenal are heavily linked with Rice, but would Mikel Arteta do away with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey?
It could result in Rice's minutes being cut. At Manchester United Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes have been a fine midfield trio - would Erik ten Hag break it up? Chelsea's midfield conundrum is unclear until they rejig their squad but, if they play two central midfielders, it will be £100m man Enzo Fernandez and one other - would Rice back himself to fill that slot on a regular basis?
The story of players excelling at mid-table clubs before taking a leap of faith is a narrative as old as time. Numerous players have jumped but struggled to enjoy the same minutes, influence and stature they did previously. Rice has long looked like a man who relished the big occasion.
“One hundred per cent, I want to play in the Champions League,” he said previously. “For the last two or three years, I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.”
Rice is yet to claim any silverware in his career and will have to make that move if he wants to change that. The challenge and conundrum for the midfielder is where he draws the line between enjoying success and being involved in that success with Phillips the prime example of a player whose switch has not gone to plan.
