Rice salutes Lewis-Skelly ´fearlessness´ after historic England debut

Declan Rice hailed the “fearlessness” shown by “asset” Myles Lewis-Skelly after the 18-year-old’s historic England debut.

The Arsenal full-back marked his senior Three Lions bow with the opening goal, as Thomas Tuchel’s reign began with a 2-0 victory over Albania at Wembley.

At 18 years and 176 days old, Lewis-Skelly became England’s youngest scoring debutant, surpassing Marcus Rashford, who was 33 days older when he netted against Australia in May 2016.

He is also the third-youngest player to score for the Three Lions overall, after Wayne Rooney (17 years, 317 days in 2003) and Michael Owen (18 years, 164 days in 1998).

“Week-on-week, he’s shown how good he is, and the fearlessness he has in his performance,” his Arsenal and England team-mate Rice told reporters.

“That’s on him: how much you want it and how much you want to keep going. He needs to be hungry every day.

“He needs to keep being himself around the training ground at Arsenal, around England, and keep pushing himself.

“Lost for words.”

A night to remember for MLSpic.twitter.com/isOA554wg9

— England (@England) March 22, 2025

“He’s an asset for us now. He’s 18 years old and has got a long career in the game if he keeps doing good things.

“He didn’t even know he was going to be starting until today, and I just knew he was going to have a good performance, because he has that belief in himself.”

It was the latest high in a breakthrough season for the Arsenal academy graduate, who has appeared 26 times for the Gunners in all competitions, having only made his first-team debut in September.

Tuchel, whose side welcome Latvia on Monday for their second World Cup qualifier in Group K, also paid tribute to Lewis-Skelly’s performance.

“He is full of confidence and full of humour, and such an open and mature character,” the Three Lions head coach added.

“Everything you see on the pitch you see off the pitch, he does it with a natural confidence, and this is how he plays football.”