Roy Keane and Ian Wright have piled praise on Myles Lewis-Skelly after finding the net on his England debut. The 18-year-old defender put the Three Lions ahead against Albania at Wembley Stadium on Friday night, scoring just his second senior goal.
Lewis-Skelly latched on to a brilliant pass from Jude Bellingham before calmly stroking the ball throw the legs of the goalkeeper. The Arsenal youngster wheeled away in celebration, sliding towards the corner flag on his knees.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Lewis-Skelly first put his head in his hands before he was bundled by his teammates. Declan Rice was the final player to congratulate the Hale End graduate; they high-fived each other before going in for a hug.
Speaking on ITV Sports at half-time, Wright said: "It was a good goal - in fact, it was an excellent goal. When you look at where he came from."
Keane added: "You've got to take risks in this game. I thought it was an absolutely brilliant goal. I thought that the pass, the weight of the pass, the timing of the run, the finish from your full-back. I thought that was fantastic. Even the timing here, just be patient.
"You need runners off the ball, this is what you need. It's sounds easy when you're sitting here, but you've also got to make the right pass. The timing has to be right, the run, the finish - I thought it was a brilliant goal."
Arsenal icon Wright went on: "I'm really pleased for him because that's what he can do. He's been overlapping, he's been underlapping, linking the play, and for him to make to be aware enough to be on that. Watching what Jude Bellingham is doing there and making sure he's got in after that and staying on side. It's what he's capable of doing."
Then, on Lewis-Skelly showing traits of a midfielder from his academy days, Wright continued: "He was a midfielder in Arsenal's academy. What he's shown is that he can play on that left, invert inside and, when he comes in there he can progress the ball with his passing through the lines or running it through lines."
Speaking to England's official website after his arrival at St. George's Park, Lewis-Skelly recalled the moment when he thought Thomas Tuchel was on the phone. The Arsenal star said: "Initially, the day before I got my call-up, I was on the phone with my friends and I got a call when I was on the phone with them.
"It said no number so I told my friends; 'One second, I need to take this call'. I'm thinking; 'There's a good chance it could be a call-up' but I ended up picking up and it was Uber Eats for my mum! I was like; 'Ah, man'. Then the next day, I got a text confirming it."
Lewis-Skelly, who had previously represented his country from under-16s through to the under-19s, added: "I was just over the moon, running around the house. It was a good moment for me and my family.
"I was just so happy because it's such a big step up and achievement. I was just so proud of myself and so grateful that I've been given the opportunity."
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