Thomas Tuchel has said he is keen to ‘accelerate’ the career of Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly with England.
Lewis-Skelly has been named in the England squad for the first time, ahead of this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia. The 18-year-old’s inclusions caps a fine breakthrough season at Arsenal, that has seen the full-back make 25 appearances in all competitions.
Representing the Three Lions for the first time 🦁
Congratulations to Dan Burn & Myles Lewis-Skelly on their maiden senior England call-ups 👏 pic.twitter.com/KcjWNzzx7h
— PFA (@PFA) March 14, 2025
Tuchel has been impressed by the maturity of the defender’s performances, with Lewis-Skelly a potential option to fill England’s problem position at left-back.
Speaking to the media, Tuchel discussed his desire to fast-track Lewis-Skelly and his decision to hand 32-year-old Newcastle centre-back Dan Burn his maiden call-up.
“Very different pathway to their first call-ups. We accelerate Myles’ career again which is already on a fast track in the last [few] months. He is a regular starter for Arsenal, at the moment the second strongest team in the Premier League. He is nothing but impressive.
“Dan is maybe a little bit overlooked,” Tuchel said when discussing Burn’s selection.
“A very impressive career, a very solid player. He plays regularly for Newcastle, for a Champions League club. He is a leader, he is a very solid defender. Very different path into the England squad but we are happy to have both of them. I am happy and excited to get to know them and hopefully they can prove us right.
“It is always a nice phone call or message [to tell them they are in a squad]. Myles skipped the U21s, which would usually be a regular pathway for him but due to injuries and flexibility that we want to have in our squad and his capability, quality and game time recently he deserved to be with us.
“With Dan I have spoken, it was a very impressive phone call. Very impressive messages which made me very comfortable in this call-up that we will pick a top team players that will help us to build the right team.”
