Myles Lewis-Skelly had a remarkable debut for England in their World Cup qualifier win over Albania at Wembley.
The Arsenal star was named in Thomas Tuchel's line-up on Friday night, and only needed 20 minutes to make his mark. The 18-year-old latched on to a brilliant pass from Jude Bellingham before firing the ball under the legs of the goalkeeper.
"Jude [Bellingham] loves to stay on the half-turn. It was a great pass from him and the timing was very good," Lewis-Skelly reflected after the game. "The keeper was coming at me, and I tried to put it between the legs. I didn't even think I was going to score!
"I am lost for words. This past six months have gone so quickly. I stay in the present and I take every moment as it comes. Honestly, it is incredible. This is a day I'll never forget."
Here, football.london has taken a look at how the media has reported on Lewis-Skelly's impressive international debut.
Lewis-Skelly’s England debut goal sets up Tuchel’s winning start over Albania
David Hytner of The Guardian wrote: "It was not a night when Thomas Tuchel’s England set the pulses racing. The new head coach had talked about the need for cut and thrust, for excitement. He was eager to ignite something at the beginning of the road to the 2026 World Cup. Instead, it was one for the more prosaic values – professionalism and control; hard work, especially without the ball.
"There was the basic ingredient of a victory on what was a showpiece occasion for Tuchel, however flat it might have felt for long spells. Together with one glorious individual story and a much more familiar one. Myles Lewis-Skelly was excellent on his first England cap, showing the swashbuckling runs from left-back that have lit up his breakthrough season at Arsenal and scoring after just 20 minutes.
"You could barely have scripted it. Except this is Lewis-Skelly, the 18-year-old who writes them himself. He had taken one confident touch in the opening exchanges, stepping up and away from his man. The kid has no nerves, merely the desire to seize any opportunity and his goal was the latest chapter of the fairytale."
Read more here.
Thomas Tuchel may have solved England’s left-back problem
The Telegraph's Jason Burt penned: "Ah, the beauty and simplicity of having a left-footer at left-back. It was Lewis-Skelly’s debut. He is just 18. He has only been playing this position for half a year – making his debut there six months ago on Saturday for Arsenal – but he is a natural.
"So it looks like a straight shoot-out between Lewis-Skelly and Lewis Hall, when fit, to be the long-term solution to what was a perennial problem under Gareth Southgate. Fair play to Tuchel, also. Much has been made of the recall of thirtysomethings such as Kyle Walker – who did well – and Jordan Henderson – who came on as a late substitute in an insight into how Tuchel plans to use him – but he was also brave enough to put the teenager straight into his team.
"Lewis-Skelly showed his adaptability and football intelligence. In the first-half he certainly played as a more orthodox left-back – with another left-footer Dan Burn at left-sided centre-back – but later he was asked to move more inside and play as another eight, especially with Bellingham pushing further forward. Given Lewis-Skelly’s age it was impressive and he certainly earned the standing ovation from the fans and Tuchel’s hug as he was substituted."
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Myles Lewis-Skelly shines, Phil Foden falters — but real tests lie in USA
Martin Samuel of The Times wrote: "As always, people will see what they wish to see. If England were more energised and intense than under Gareth Southgate it was by degrees. Tuchel said he wanted more touches in the opposition area but he got them mainly 30 yards from goal. The Albanians ran a tight ship, even if their game plan was unsustainable within Wembley’s open spaces.
"There was always likely to be a breach — and when it came so too did a piece of history for Myles Lewis-Skelly. Eighteen years and 167 days old. The youngest scorer on his England debut in history, beating Marcus Rashford by 42 days. What a perfectly taken goal it was too. Testament, not just to the young man but to Tuchel too. On the day he announced his squad, Tuchel spoke as if Lewis-Skelly were almost a battlefield promotion.
"That, in friendlier circumstances, he would have been left to learn his trade with England Under-21, which, it could be argued, was the most logical place for a teenager with his enormous talent but chequered disciplinary record. Tuchel must have seen something. Seen a spark in training this past week that convinced him Lewis-Skelly just had to make the team. Not many coaches would take a chance like that on the first day, even those that are time poor."
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