Myles Lewis-Skelly began his international career in style on Friday night, scoring against Albania at Wembley for England.
Thomas Tuchel named his inaugural England squad last week, and rewarded the Arsenal star for his exceptional form at club level with his first call-up to the senior set-up.
Lewis-Skelly repaid the faith shown in him, opening the scoring in the World Cup qualifier against the Eastern European nation by slotting past Thomas Strakosha after being fed by a pinpoint through ball from Jude Bellingham.
The Three Lions secured all three points in the second half when Harry Kane expertly converted Declan Rice’s cross, ensuring the Tuchel era got off to a flying start.
Declan Rice praises Myles Lewis-Skelly after England debut
Arsenal fans were beaming with pride after seeing Lewis-Skelly start and score for England, with the starlet the latest in a long list of Hale End graduates to have made his debut for the Three Lions.
He became the third youngest-ever England goalscorer behind Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, and the youngest player to score for the national team on his debut.
With England currently lacking many other options at left-back due to injury, the teenager has the opportunity to establish himself in the position.
Speaking to the media after the game, Arsenal teammate Rice revealed that he’d been saying that the spot could be Lewis-Skelly’s since before Christmas, and he was laughed at for it.
“I was saying it before Christmas [he could be England’s first choice left-back],” Rice said.
“A lot of people laughed at me and questioned it, saying I was speaking out of term.
“I was saying good things about him, but week-on-week he’s showed how good he is and the fearlessness he has on the pitch.
“Tonight when I saw he was going to be starting, he didn’t even know he was starting until today, I just knew he was going to have a good performance because he has that belief in himself.
“He needs to be hungry every day and keep being himself around on the training ground. He’s an asset for us now, he’s 18-years-old but he’s got a long career in the game if he keeps doing the good things.”
With the way Lewis-Skelly has developed, Rice’s optimistic outlook back in December has certainly been proven right.
What Thomas Tuchel said about Myles Lewis-Skelly
Tuchel waxed lyrical about Lewis-Skelly after naming his squad last week, and the German didn’t stop there in his praise for the player.
Speaking after the game, the former Chelsea boss applauded the defender’s performance, whilst also drawing attention to his character.
“He was amazing in camp,” Tuchel said.
“He’s full of confidence and very full of humour. Such an open and mature character. Everything you see on the pitch you see off the pitch.
“A great performance. He is full of courage and quality.”
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