Kyle Walker lauded Rico Lewis after his debut for England in their 1-1 draw against North Macedonia on Monday.
Speaking to Channel 4 (20/11/2023) after the clash, Walker was quizzed about his Manchester City teammate’s performance.
Previously as well, the 33-year-old has hailed the teenager as an “unbelievable” young prospect.
Kyle Walker raves about “fantastic” Rico Lewis after his England debut against North Macedonia
Ahead of the contest, Gareth Southgate praised Rico Lewis for how well he has adapted to the Three Lions setup.
The 19-year-old impressed out of position, looking exceptionally technically secure, barely putting a foot wrong and linking up well with Jack Grealish on the left flank.
After England shared the spoils with North Macedonia, Kyle Walker only had good things to say about Rico Lewis.
“He’s a great lad. Shows day in and day out his quality and to play for a team like we have got he deserves this cap because I think he’s been fantastic. So, congratulations!”, Walker told Channel 4.
Rico Lewis could be the veteran’s heir for both club and country
As Rico Lewis continues to impress for both Manchester City and now England against North Macedonia, he could succeed Kyle Walker one day.
The five-time Premier League winner is not getting any younger and while he remains a world-class right-back, one can foresee him not operating at the elite level in a few years.
While Rico Lewis is a very different player to the former Tottenham defender, he has shown that he has the minerals to take his place.
One could argue that Lewis could be a more useful tactical weapon than Walker due to his ability to play as an inverted right-back with aplomb.
The youngster is also far more technically gifted across various phases of play.
If Rico Lewis makes significant improvements to the defensive side of his game, he could replace Kyle Walker for both club and country seamlessly.
For now, Lewis must focus on getting as many minutes he can under his belt for both sides.
