Gabriel Agbonlahor calls out 'bitter guy' Roy Keane over Declan Rice criticism

Gabriel Agbonlahor has branded Roy Keane a 'bitter guy' in response to his scathing criticism of Declan Rice.

Keane pulled no punches in his assessment of Rice, who has attracted plenty of interest with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool thought to be monitoring his development at West Ham United.

He slammed the England international, claiming he's not been great this season and bemoaned his lack of goals and assists in a stunning rant.

"He has first got to focus on West Ham and doing well for the rest of the season, but I don’t think he has been great this season, I don’t think he has kicked on for all the talk there has been about him - he needs to do a lot more," the 51-year-old said on ITV in the build-up to Man United vs. West Ham last Wednesday.

Declan Rice in action for West Ham United. Image: Alamy

"He doesn’t score enough goals or get enough assists," Keane added. "I have been a fan of him, he is always fit, but I just want a little bit more from him.

"There is talk of him leaving for big money and competing with teams for trophies, and he needs to do a lot more, it is as simple as that. Sometimes, I see him play at West Ham and he goes through the motions, and he needs to do a lot more to match the top midfielders in the country."

Agbonlahor has hit out at Keane and jumped to the defence of Rice, explaining his role at club level compared to how he operates on the international scene.

"I've watched him for England when he's maybe got more of a freer role to go more forward, but you watch him at West Ham, he's got to sit there," he said on talkSPORT. "He's got [Tomas] Soucek who wants to get on the end of crosses, he hasn't got the licence to run forward. When he's at it, Declan Rice, he can run with the ball, he's got that long stride, he can score goals, [he is a] a great striker of the ball."

The former Aston Villa forward continued by taking aim at Keane, calling him a 'bitter guy' in a furious swipe.

"I think sometimes some of these pundits like Roy Keane - who is a bitter guy, I had him [as assistant manager] at Aston Villa and he was a very bitter person - has something against him. He's what West Ham value him at," he said.