Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany shares his views to Sports Mole on whether Rico Lewis is capable of solving England’s left-back conundrum under interim boss Lee Carsley.
Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has shared his views on whether Rico Lewis is capable of solving England‘s left-back conundrum under interim boss Lee Carsley.
The Three Lions are preparing for two UEFA Nations League fixtures in this month’s international break, with a clash against Greece at Wembley Stadium on Thursday evening followed three days later by a trip to Finland.
Carsley, who oversaw his first two matches in charge last month against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, announced his 25-man squad last week – which has since been reduced to 22 following three withdrawals – and it does not include a natural left-back option.
Luke Shaw remains out through injury and Ben Chilwell has struggled for minutes at Chelsea, while versatile full-back Kieran Trippier retired from international football in the summer.
Two players who are therefore set to battle for the left-back berth in Carsley’s England side are Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and Man City starlet Lewis, who both played a game each on the left side of defence during last month’s international break.
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Lewis in contention to start at left-back vs. Greece and Finland
Lewis has earned two senior England caps thus far and on both occasions was deployed as a left-back, where he has played just the once for Man City this season – starting in that position for the first half of City’s 2-1 win at home to Brentford in the Premier League last month.
At the age of just 19, Lewis has already made 60 first-team appearances for Pep Guardiola‘s side and has excelled as a talented, versatile player – primarily operating at right-back, but also drifting into midfield.
Should Carsley opt to select Colwill as a left-sided centre-back against Greece on Thursday, Lewis would presumably be in line to start at left-back, and McInerney believed the Citizens academy graduate has the credentials to thrive in that role, even though it is not his preferred position.
Speaking to Sports Mole, McInerney said: “He’ll get a chance there, almost certainly. I don’t think he’s a natural there by any stretch. He’s clearly favours the right-hand side of the pitch, or [a midfield role], but if anyone’s smart enough in that England squad to do that, it’s Rico Lewis of all people.
“Special talent” Lewis ‘has a wonderful football brain’
“He has that phenomenal understanding of the way football moves. He’s a special talent. He really is. His biggest attribute is that wonderful football brain of his. The way he sees things on the pitch, the way he moves into space that others don’t seem to recognise. It’s a natural born talent, and he’ll do his best from left-back.
“He’ll no doubt at some point, pop up at right-back, as a right midfielder, in centre-midfield, on the left wing, that’s what he does. He hovers around the pitch and contributes pretty much in every third of the pitch, which is really, really impressive.
“I’m not really a fan of it, but this idea of the inverted full-backs isn’t exactly a new one. Rico got his chance in the City team initially when two senior players, [Kyle] Walker and [Joao] Cancelo weren’t in great form. [Cancelo], of course, was an inverted full-back. [Lewis is] very much aware of that role.
“I still think England should find a left-back. There are plenty of left-footed left-backs in this country, and I think they should do that, but for now, Rico will get his chance and I’m happy about it.”
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McInerney: ‘Lewis will thrive off England challenge’
Discussing Lewis further and his impressive rise, McInerney added: “There is nothing better in football, in my humble opinion, than seeing a young lad become a superstar who has that connection to your club.
“Rico was born not too far from the ground in place called Radcliffe. Rico is in this really exciting stage of his career where everything’s new, everything’s fresh. These opportunities with England… I know he’s been in the England squad before, but I can imagine he’s like a kid [ahead of] his first day at school, it’s all very exciting, it’s all very dramatic.
“He’s in such a hot vein of form that it feels like he can’t really do much wrong right now. I think him getting more experience with England and accepting that responsibility that comes with it – he’s the kind of guy that thrives off a challenge. For Rico it’ll be another step in the right direction.”
Only Erling Haaland (871) and Josko Gvardiol (855) have played more first-team minutes for Man City across all competitions so far this season than Lewis (846), who has been one of the Citizens’ standout performers and has been trusted by Guardiola to operate at right-back, left-back and in central midfield positions thus far.
Lewis is one of five Man City players who has been called up to the England squad this month along with Walker, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, the latter of whom has returned to the senior set-up after missing last month’s international break through illness.
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