Manchester City have made a great start to the new season – and there is one player who has come in for a lot of praise so far.
Pep Guardiola‘s side have won two out of two in the Premier League, against Chelsea and Ipswich Town.
They have not been at their best, with key players still fully getting up to speed. But Manchester City have been good and fans will be pleased given the club normally start seasons slowly.
It is transfer deadline day on Friday, and then City have their last game before the first international break against West Ham United.
City will be hoping to head into that break with nine points out of nine.
One man who’ll be hoping to start for the third game running is Rico Lewis – and today could be a big day for the teenager.
Man City star Rico Lewis deserves an England call-up from Lee Carsley today
Lewis has come into the new season as a starter for City.
Kyle Walker returned late after being given an extended break by the manager, following England’s run to the Euro 2024 final.
The club captain was available for selection against Ipswich last weekend, but Pep stuck with Lewis, who had shone against Chelsea the weekend before. The manager had branded him ‘unbelievable’ after that game, adding that he ‘does everything good’.
Lewis had also been really good against Manchester United in the Community Shield.
He deservedly started against Ipswich, with his good form continuing.
After two rounds of Premier League fixtures, no player in the division has won possession back more times than Lewis (18). That is a remarkable statistic for someone who plays for a side that dominates the ball.
Lewis has been a breath of fresh air so far for City, and he even turned on the style against Ipswich at one point with a sublime FIFA Street-style turn in midfield that wowed fans.
He is full of confidence right now, and it would be so right if Lee Carsley called him up to the England squad later today.
Carsley has observed Lewis twice so far this season, and one would imagine there is a reasonable chance. The interim Three Lions boss will be keen to put his own stamp on things following Gareth Southgate’s departure, and a call-up for Lewis would be well-deserved for the player.
Given Carsley has previously worked as head coach of the Man City U18s, hopefully Lewis will be very much in his thinking, even though he has never actually managed him.
Lewis can be a regular for club and country
- READ MORE: Who is Rico Lewis? The Man City prodigy who is one of the best Pep Guardiola has ever trained
This could well be a huge season for Lewis.
He has started extremely well and currently, he has the shirt at City over Walker. It would be right for him to start against West Ham as he certainly doesn’t deserve to be dropped.
This could well be the season he makes himself a regular for City, with Walker on the decline.
And there is no reason why Lewis cannot eventually become a regular for England too.
We know that England have been blessed with great right-backs. But Walker and Kieran Trippier are both ageing and Reece James is extremely injury prone.
£25,000-a-week gem Lewis would have big competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the City youngster’s versatility and consistency could stand him in very good stead.
