Myles Lewis-Skelly with Declan Rice - England
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has heaped praise on his club teammate Myles Lewis-Skelly after the 18-year-old made history by scoring on his England debut.
The young full-back found the net just 20 minutes into England’s 2-0 victory over Albania in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier at Wembley. His composed finish, after being played through by Jude Bellingham, sent the home crowd into celebration. Harry Kane later secured the win with a poacher’s goal in the 70th minute, marking a successful managerial debut for Thomas Tuchel.
Following the match, Rice was asked whether Lewis-Skelly could become England’s long-term solution at left-back. While he acknowledged the teenager’s immense talent, he was keen to stress that the youngster should be allowed to develop without excessive pressure.
“Look, we have so many good left-backs in this country,” Rice said via HaytersTV. “We can’t not mention Lewis Hall, who’s been unbelievable for Newcastle this year. [Luke] Shaw has been injured, but he’s been outstanding for England.”
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“No one is guaranteed a place in the England team. You need to be on it every time you come here. Myles is only 18—we can’t put that kind of pressure on him straight away, saying he’ll be England’s starter for the next 10 years. You don’t want to do that.”
Myes Lewis-Skelly - England
Myes Lewis-Skelly scored on his England debut against Albania (Image credit: Getty Images)
“Just let him keep playing, keep enjoying his football, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see the best of him. If he stays hungry and keeps improving, he can definitely have a long career with England.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel also shared his thoughts on Lewis-Skelly’s potential role in the national team. While the youngster played as an advanced midfielder against Albania, Tuchel believes his best position lies in a deeper role.
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“He played as a No. 8 or 10 today, but I think his best position is where he plays for Arsenal—in the left double-six, inverted role,” Tuchel told Sky Sports.
“If you watch him in possession drills during training, his first touch, body movement, and passing ability show a very high understanding of the game. He’s very versatile and can do a lot of things, but we wanted to keep things simple today given the mix of players from different clubs.”
Lewis-Skelly’s impressive debut has only increased excitement around his future for both club and country, but as Rice and Tuchel emphasised, allowing him to develop naturally will be key to his long-term success.
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