Man City ace Rico Lewis handed England senior debut by Gareth Southgate
The Manchester City academy product was selected to start against North Macedonia in England's final Euro 2024 qualifier.
Manchester City star Rico Lewis has been handed his England senior debut in the country’s final Euro 2024 qualifying match against North Macedonia.
The Blues academy product - who turns 19 on Tuesday - becomes the second-youngest City player to make his bow for the Three Lions. Micah Richards holds the record, having made his maiden appearance aged 222 days younger than Lewis.
Lewis - who was initially selected for the under-21s - was called up to the senior squad for the first time this month after several injury withdrawals. He has been asked to play left-back with fellow City stars also making the XI on the night.
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Kyle Walker takes the armband at right-back while Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are also given the nod. Kalvin Phillips could make an appearance from the bench.
Speaking in the days ahead of the match, Lewis - who also operates as a midfielder - said he hopes his versatility can earn him a place in the Euro 2024 squad next summer with England having already booked their place in Germany.
He said: “Obviously, in terms of a tournament, you can only select the amount you can select and it can be a key factor in going or not going. But for me, I am not really focusing on that right now but I understand it is a key thing that could contribute to me being picked or not.
“Anywhere I played, I would relish it. Whether it is right back, midfield, left back - I am not really bothered. Obviously I just love playing football and at the moment it is going really well. Any opportunity I get, I will do my best to take it.
“Obviously the manager has asked me about where I want to play, my favourite position, stuff like that. General conversations, but nothing about game time. This is not something I expected, especially coming into the international week when I was in the Under 21s. Obviously a lot of things happened and fortunately for me I am here now.
“I have enjoyed every minute of it so far - meeting everybody, meeting the players, the staff, the training sessions, everything.
“Being at games and coming up to tournaments it is important you feel as a squad that everybody is together. For me it is very important, I want to feel as close and as comfortable as I possibly can.”