Declan Rice has defended lifelong friend and England team-mate Mason Mount, saying he would get in any team in the Premier League.
Midfielder Mount, 21, has been accused of benefiting from favouritism by some fans as he has become a Chelsea and England regular.
"I know what his mentality is like. I know how driven he is," Rice said.
"It is no surprise that Gareth [Southgate] picks him and Frank [Lampard] picks him."
West Ham's Rice added: "I think if you give every Premier League manager the chance to pick him, they pick him as well because if you see day in, day out what he gives to the team as an individual, he's a top talent - so I think that the criticism is very harsh.