Tuchel calls up Rico Lewis as late England replacement for injured Nico O'Reilly
Manchester City's Rico Lewis has been promoted from the England U21s to Thomas Tuchel's senior squad as a late replacement for the injured Nico O'Reilly, ahead of Tuesday's Nations League meeting with Czechia at Wembley.
Rico Lewis has been promoted to the England senior squad as a late replacement for the injured Nico O’Reilly ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Czechia at Wembley.
The 21-year-old Manchester City full-back has been elevated from the U21s after O’Reilly, his club team-mate, withdrew from the squad and returned to Manchester following injury, having missed England’s 2-0 win in Czechia earlier in the week. Lewis joins from Lee Carsley’s U21 side, which he helped to qualify for the 2027 UEFA U21 EURO during this break.
The call-up ends Lewis’s absence from the senior setup of almost two years. The right-back, who can also play on the opposite flank and in midfield, has five senior caps, the last of them coming in November 2024 against Greece during Carsley’s interim tenure. His debut came in November 2023, a 1-1 Euro 2024 qualifying draw with North Macedonia.
Thomas Tuchel’s side take on Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday with a 19:45 UK kick-off, following a 3-2 defeat to Spain, the 2-0 victory in Prague and Saturday’s 7-0 thrashing of Croatia. A win would take England a large step towards the Nations League quarter-finals.
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