19 November 2023 , 22:30
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Rico Lewis believes his versatility could be a “key factor” in winning a place for next summer’s Euros.
Manchester City teenager Lewis, 18, has got his first England senior call-up on the back of playing different roles for Pep Guardiola. Lewis has played in both full back slots, as an inverted full back and also in midfield which could make him a welcome addition to England’s 23 man squad for the tournament.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has had a particular issue at left back with Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell both being prone to injuries and Lewis even started City’s first game of the season at Burnley at left back.
Lewis 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.
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“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.”
Lewis was only promoted to the seniors from the under-21s last week but has already made his shirt from Friday night - even though he did not get on - a prized possession. That experience together with being around the squad has been of huge value while he says he has tapped into Trent Alexander-Arnold for some advice.
Lewis added: “I would not say picked his brains - for me there has not been much on the pitch yet that we can talk about or anything like that but I have had a few conversations with him and he is a very nice person. He is somebody I have got to know a little bit.
“We are very similar being full backs and leaning a little bit more towards midfield, especially with England. And he is somebody I can take a lot of information from.”