It’s fairly obvious that there are few better ways to mark your England debut than a goal. [Myles Lewis-Skelly’s performance against Albania](https://fromthespot.co.uk/17649/england-2-0-albania-lewis-skelly-scores-on-england-debut-as-tuchel-era-gets-underway-at-wembley/) on Friday was much more than his first-half strike, though. It oozed class – and perhaps most importantly, it could have sealed his place in Thomas Tuchel’s side for the foreseeable future.
Lewis-Skelly’s inclusion in Tuchel’s first England squad didn’t come without criticism. After making appearances for Arsenal’s U21s in the EFL Trophy earlier this season, and having only broken into Arsenal’s first team on a consistent basis over the last six months, some raised questions as to whether the 18-year-old had enough experience to pull on the _Three Lions_ shirt at Wembley.
Others highlighted his questionable disciplinary record, which has seen him dismissed twice in 14 Premier League appearances this season. Some, inexplicably, suggested that his ‘arrogant’ little dance at St George’s Park’ was a sign his ego had grown too fast – because of course, who doesn’t want a team full of robots lacking even the slightest glimmer of a personality?
But within just 20 minutes on Friday, Lewis-Skelly had silenced those doubters. A composed run into the box saw the full-back keep Jasir Asani at bay, opening up space to slot his strike through the legs of Thomas Strakosha and spark euphoria amongst the majority at Wembley.
It’s hard to believe, sometimes, that the Hale End graduate is still in his teenage years. He plays with the confidence of a seasoned professional, offering an assured presence on the left side of defence – and he is still almost a decade out from his prime.
_“He has a very high understanding of the game,”_ said Tuchel in his post-match press conference on Friday, piling on the praise for the youngster in a stark contrast to his criticism of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden.
_“It comes naturally to him. He’s very versatile and can do, I think, a lot of things.”_
It’s not just Lewis-Skelly’s on-pitch excellence that makes him such an attractive prospect to keep around the England squad for years to come, though. As per Tuchel, the 18-year-old is _“amazing”_ to have in camp and is, despite his young age, _“such an open and mature character.”_
That maturity comes across even in his media commitments. Lewis-Skelly’s remarkable selflessness, even in the immediate aftermath of what is undoubtedly one of the greatest moments of his career so far, was on full display as he told ITV: _“I’m so grateful that the manager put trust in me and the players too.”_
_“\[It was a\] great pass from Jude – all I had to do was put it in the back of the net.”_