New England call-up Rico Lewis hails influence of Man City team-mate Kyle Walker

Rico Lewis may have received his first senior England call-up but the Manchester City defender will have one of his biggest influences in club-mate Kyle Walker to guide him through.

The 18-year-old was added to Gareth Southgate's squad for the final Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia after a number of injury withdrawals.

Lewis had initially been included in the under-21s squad but was moved up along with Chelsea forward Cole Palmer.

Having made only 35 first-team appearances for City, it is an early chance for Lewis to impress on the top-level of international football and he will no doubt be pleased to have his mentor Walker on hand for any advice.

Walker, 15 years Lewis' senior and the oldest member of Southgate's squad, has 79 caps and is arguably in the best form of his career.

Asked about his biggest footballing influences, Lewis told BBC Radio 5Live: "I would probably say the coaches I've had all the way through City. Most of the values that the first-team have had since Pep (Guardiola) joined have been throughout the whole academy.

"So all the coaches have had a massive impact on forming who I am today and the kind of player I am.

"I'd say more recently, in the first team, Kyle and obviously, the manager (Guardiola), especially, have been so helpful in building up confidence and also given me the tools and the kind of information I needed to be better.

"I'd say off the pitch, I'm closer with Phil (Foden) and the younger players and stuff like that, but definitely on the pitch and giving me the important information before a game – definitely, Kyle."

Despite progressing through the ranks predominately as a right-back, just like Walker, Lewis has found a midfield role as a way into Guardiola's thinking of late – but he revealed it is not a new position for him.

"I think I've always been able to play in the midfield, in terms of the position anyway, I've always been able to play in the middle in different positions," he added.

"But the majority of the time in the academy I spent as a full-back and then last year especially it's just progressed more and more of having this role of being a full-back and and coming inside and it's down to the tactics of the manager."

Lewis has got his first taste of training with the England senior team at what could prove to be an opportune time – with just one further squad to be selected before Southgate makes his picks for Euro 2024.

It is a lifelong goal achieved by Lewis – but he is refusing to even consider being on the plane to Germany in June.

"Obviously, it's amazing. I always used to watch the YouTube videos of the arrivals and stuff like that, I think a lot of people watch them," he said.

"Then to be to be pulling up and seeing the cameras and stuff like that, it's a bit surreal.

"Obviously, when it comes down to the training, that's when you've got to switch on and focus on the reason you're here.

"You have to show why you deserve to come again next time and get picked for other things and stuff like that.

"I don't need to focus on being picked for certain things. I just need to focus on myself and what I can do and what's in my control and that's working hard every day and trying to progress and achieve the best I can do every time I train, every time I play."

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