Rico Lewis earns England recall as Thomas Tuchel drafts in cover
Manchester City's Rico Lewis has been called up to the senior England squad to replace the injured Nico O'Reilly for the upcoming match against the Czech Republic.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
Thomas Tuchel has bolstered his England squad by drafting in Manchester City defender Rico Lewis. The versatile youngster joins the senior setup ahead of Tuesday’s Nations League fixture against the Czech Republic.
The call-up comes as a direct replacement for Nico O'Reilly, who has been forced to withdraw from the international camp due to an injury. Although the England coaching staff initially opted not to replace O'Reilly following the 7-0 win over Croatia, tactical requirements for the upcoming match prompted a change of heart.
For Lewis, this inclusion marks the end of a long hiatus from the senior international stage, having not featured for the Three Lions since November 2024. His return follows a period of limited opportunities at club level, where he has managed only three appearances for Manchester City throughout the current campaign.
Meanwhile, O'Reilly has returned to Manchester for further medical assessment. The young midfielder, who has been a standout figure for his club this season, will be monitored closely to ensure his injury does not result in a long-term layoff.