Although Rico Lewis, a young player for Manchester City, had his senior England debut on Monday night, he is not yet concentrating on earning a spot in the team for the European Championship in the summer.
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On the eve of his 19th birthday, Lewis was an unexpected starter in a 1-1 draw between England and North Macedonia. The teenager didn’t appear out of place with the first squad, despite the unlucky penalty that was delivered against him after a VAR intervention.
When it comes to selecting his team for Germany’s Euro 2024 next summer, Southgate will have a new challenge because to his adaptability. Lewis, meanwhile, isn’t thinking that far ahead; instead, he is relishing his first senior international appearance.
After playing full-time, Lewis told Channel 4 that “obviously overall I’m very happy.” Regretfully, the outcome and the decision clearly worked against me.
“But all in all, I’m really glad that I made my debut—first of all, it was a great birthday present—and that I got to do it with my loved ones. Nothing could have been better, in my opinion.
“I’m not really thinking about competitions or the future at all. All I can do is think about how I can improve myself. I simply need to concentrate on what I can do better, and we’ll see where it goes from there.
Lewis, who has been training under the more seasoned right-back Kyle Walker for the past few seasons, had long been considered as City’s future starter. In addition to being in some of his greatest form right now, the 33-year-old has been a great mentor to a player who is 14 years younger than him.
Lewis is a great lad, Walker added. “Listen, he consistently demonstrates his abilities, and I believe that playing for a team like ours justifies him receiving this cap. Thus, first and foremost, happy birthday to you tomorrow and congratulations.”
