Myles Lewis-Skelly is expected to start for England against Senegal on Tuesday, and he could be a long-term pick for Thomas Tuchel if he remains at left-back.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Myles Lewis-Skelly of England celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Tom Allnutt reports for The Times that Myles Lewis-Skelly is expected to start for England against Senegal in the friendly on Tuesday.
Lewis-Skelly wasn’t involved as Thomas Tuchel experimented with his team in Friday’s game against Andorra, but he’s set to return to the side in midweek.
Allnutt adds that Lewis-Skelly could become the much-needed answer to Tuchel’s long-term problems on the left, but that’s assuming Mikel Arteta doesn’t decide to move him back into central midfield with Arsenal next season.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Myles Lewis-Skelly of England scores his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
On a related note, the same report adds that if Lewis-Skelly pushes forward on the left, as he does for Arsenal, Tuchel would want a reliable right-back who can tuck into the defence.
That would seemingly put Ben White in a good position for future call-ups, not least because he’ll be able to practice that role with Arsenal.
White wasn’t included this month, but Tuchel explained that was due to the imminent birth of the defender’s child, as well as his continuing work to return to full fitness. Once his child is born and he’s fully fit, there’s no reason to believe he won’t return to the England squad in future breaks.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Ben White of Arsenal arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
As well as Lewis-Skelly, Bukayo Saka has revealed that he’s hoping to start England’s game on Tuesday. Saka was left out of the previous game after a minor injury setback in Arsenal’s final match of the season, but he’s fit again now.
Declan Rice may also be involved, having only featured from the bench against Andorra.
England didn’t have a single Arsenal player in the starting lineup last Friday, but it seems they may soon have an influx from Arteta’s squad in their first-choice side.
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