Is Left-Back Lewis Skelly's to lose? | Was Tuchel right to include Rashford and Foden in first starting 11?
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Time now for Back Pages tonight here on Sky Sports News, bringing you a first look at the sports stories in the morning's newspapers. And joining us, ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden and sports broadcaster Henry Winter. Welcome to you both. Let's quickly run through the Back Pages.

Only one show in town really. Miles, touch of class, tooch of class, took of class. Lewis Kelly's opener delivers winning start for new coach. Norrish cranks up Russell Rowe after mind games. That's the F1. In the Telegraph mail, we've got Miles better is the headline there. Becomes youngest English starter. Score on debut as Tuchel's team edge past Albania. F1 have covered as well. The times, what dreams are made of.

And the start, Miles High Club. Lewis Skelly is a history boy as Tuchel seals win. And Ben has making up to do. That's a Wales story. Ben Davis. OK, let's start with the front page of the Telegraph Sports Supplement. Miles Tuch of class, Tuch of class, however you say Thomas Tuchel. Lewis Skelly's opener delivers a winning start for new coach. Let's go to Wembley, where Henry Winter was on the spot. Henry, your assessment.

Of Miles Lewis-Skelly? I thought he was outstanding. It's crazy to think. He's crazy to think he's 18. Yeah.

Yeah, Lewis Skelly was absolutely class. Do you know what? I've seen something which I've never seen before with England. Those who didn't start have just had the most intense half-an-hour game, small-sided game. So this is the new Tuchel era. This is the demanding era that we expect. And, you know, he's unleashed Lewis Skelly at left-back. And there's a nice bit on the front page of The Times which actually says it's 180 days after his debut for Arsenal. So this is quite a season that he's having.

But he just looks complete. Look at that. It's a great front page. And you've got him, I think it's against City, that pep in the background in the top left-hand corner of when he sort of made his debut for Arsenal 28 games later and two goals later. He's scoring for England at Wembley. And there was a wonderful moment. I mean, I know one or two members of his family and they're just fantastic,

You know, the support network around him, whether it's a club, whether it's at HLN, the academy that he came through at Arsenal, whether it's with Nikhal Arteta or Declan Rice, who spoke so warmly throughout the season about Lewis Skelly, or whether it's his family himself. You know, he's a young kid with a huge future and he's got a fantastic network around him.

And you just saw his touch today. I mean, it's crazy to think he was 18. You know, he was taking the ball under pressure. He was turning away from tackles. And that goal was fantastic. I mean, the way he worked it in terms of the overlap with Marcus Rashford, the way he had that eye contact with Bellingham and then ran through to get onto Bellingham's sensational pass and slip it through the keeper's legs. So, look, you don't want to overhype a kid, but he's certainly got a lot of promise.

He certainly has. The words were flowing and glowing from Thomas Tuchel about him, weren't they, Mark, as well? Full of courage, full of quality, amazing, great performance, Tuchel's words on Miles Lewis Skelly. I don't want to get too excited, but could we be looking at the England left-back for a decade to come, a sort of Ashley Cole scenario, if you like?

Well, it's a position that England have had problems with, certainly in recent years. Obviously, Luke Shaw's fitness, Ben Chilwell's fitness, they've not really had a solution there. So, yes, he's only 18 and there's a long way to go. But if he keeps fit, if he stays in form, he's playing for a big club at Arsenal, I see no reason why he can't nail that position down. But like I say, Luke Shaw will come back fit at some point. But I think by now, age will catch up with him and injuries have caught up with him, obviously. So I think Lewis Skelly, if he...

stays fit and consistent will hold that position down I think it did give England balance tonight I think Dan Byrne as well with the left side of the centre half helped you know with the balance on the left hand side England looked confident on the ball certainly for the majority of the game tonight I think that was partly down to the fact they had two left footers in the defence so for me you know Lewis Skelly a great start a great debut to score in your debut you can see what it meant to him the way he was kind of raising the crowd as well after he scored so we kind of forget he's still a kid and

and he talked about how he was screaming with joy when he got the call up last week so you can imagine what he felt inside having scored a goal so yes he's scoring his England debut but he's still a kid a couple of years ago at school so just imagine how he feels what story is that 18 years old scores an England debut

and show that he can be, like you say, the guy left back for the next 10 years. Quite a remarkable story, isn't it? Guardian Sports supplement into us as well. Miles High, Lewis Skelly scores on debut as Tuchel's reign gets off to a winning start. Broadly, Henry, I want to come in a minute to a piece by Sam Wallace, who maybe looks at some of the issues that remain for Tuchel. What's your assessment of England?

Well, just quickly on Lewis Kelly, it just shows the sort of the versatility that Tuchel wants is that he was he was a sort of like a left back, as Oggy was saying in the first half, but stepped more into midfield and was more of a sort of six or an eight, really even pushing further on. So he's got that sort of tactical intelligence.

And that is sort of a hallmark of Tuchel's teams, is that he challenges players to be more than sort of pigeonholed as they might have been before. And we're absolutely seeing that. We saw it with Kane, who dropped off a little bit, but then decided to stay higher up.

Bellingham, of course. I mean, if you've got a player like Jude Bellingham, who is truly world-class, that's what 41 internationals he's played, when he's still eligible for the under-21s for a few months longer. He is a remarkable talent. And I know there's a debate about what's his best position, but the key thing is England have got him. Get him on the pitch. I thought he was pretty decent in the 10 role tonight. We might see him play as an 8-1.

in other games but England have to build around him so look very promising nothing could see I thought Byrne was caught out a little bit at times by Brozier in the second half but look it's a very solid start for Tuchel and Mark looking more sort of deeply into the performance of England as I mentioned Sam Wallace in the Telegraph Lewis Skelly shines on debut but

But Tuchel era looks familiar. The top line here from Sam, win now is the approach of the new England manager, Thomas Tuchel. The problem is ever with a national team, winning now looks very different to winning then in the heat and tumult of a hot summer at the World Cup finals. How do you feel overall about England, Mark? Well, that is a fair point. I think the run that England have got between now and the World Cup, if they qualify, which they should do, it's a run of games against teams that are quite far down the rankings. There's not really a test, there's no...

France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Argentina then and that is the issue that England face whenever they get to a major tournament can they keep the ball against these teams and can they use it properly and I think one thing that concerned me tonight was the midfield I think you know Bellingham has to play but when he does play he plays in that kind of number 10 role so you've basically got two in midfield it was 4-2-4 at times tonight and I think if you're playing that system you need someone in midfield who can who

who can win the ball that's Declan Rice's job but somebody can pass and create and I'm not quite sure that is Declan Rice's job now Curtis Jones is is a decent midfielder but again I don't think he ticks that box England haven't got a Martin Oldegaard or a Paul Gascoigne they just haven't got that but I think if they can find somebody then obviously Morgan Gibbs-White has had a great season for Forest he didn't make the squad tonight I think Lewis Miley at Newcastle could develop in the next 12 months if he stays fit he'll only be 20 at the World Cup but

But midfield is a problem and I think tonight against Albania, not the strongest opposition, I think there were times when Declan Rice didn't use the ball as well as he could have done, but I just think that is an issue where England have a problem. Jordan Henderson can't be the solution. He'll be 36 when he goes to the World Cup, he's not playing every week for Ajax. So for me, if you're having to be critical or pick an area where they have to strengthen or be better, it's in midfield, but that's been the case for, you know, Henry will know better than me, for years and years in tournaments and tournaments.

Thoughts on the midfield, Henry? As Mark says there, Bellingham playing further forward. Is there an argument with the abundance of tens for England that you do play him deeper?

Well, and that would allow you to play Cole Palmer as a 10 because he's an outstanding player and you've got to find some way of getting Cole Palmer in the team. I slightly dispute sort of Oggy's view on Declan Rice. I thought his assist was good. I thought he has to do so much work of covering and tracking back and shielding the back four. I take Oggy's point about the sort of, you know, the...

the lack of invention and guile in central midfield. And maybe that's why Lewis Skelly stepped into midfield and played pretty much alongside Rice in the second half, because he has got that confidence to turn away from players and play those little touches through the middle and to release a Jude Bellingham. But the great thing is, is that England have got these options. I mean, I've just watched Morgan Gibbs-Wyatt, just fantastic in a five-side game.

game down there. He's been brilliant for Forest all season. There's another 10 that England have got. I mean, and Foden can play, obviously, as a 10 as well. We haven't even mentioned Maddison and Grealish. So, you know, and the under-21s who had quite a game tonight. I think they lost 5-3 in the end. But you look at some of the players they've got there,

Adam Wharton is not a 10, but I tell you what, as a passing number eight or six, you know, he can definitely do a job in there. So Tuchel has got some fantastic kids who are coming through the academy and that he can pick from. But I slightly agree with Augie in terms of we don't have a sort of hodl type in there. But, you know, are we producing those anymore?

Oh, indeed, that's a big conversation point. What about what Thomas Tuchel had said pre-match, Mark, about wanting the Premier League style for England, a pace and energy? What did you make of England in that regard? 75% possession, but maybe not overly dynamic?

Well, I think they started to try and play that way. But in international football, you can't play the way you play in the Premier League because in the Premier League, more often than not, you'll come up against a team that will actually come and play against you. Now, Albania played as deep as possible. I think Latvia will be the same on Monday. And this is the problem you face when England play international games. Unless they play a Spain or a France in Italy, then they're playing against teams that will sit deep. And that is alien to the Premier League. The Premier League is two teams having a go at each other

So you have to temper your style a little bit, and I think you'll find that too because he goes on. This is his first game as an international coach, don't forget. He's learning as well. But you can't play that high-tempo Premier League game if your opponent just wants to sit in the defensive third. So you'll have to find a way to...

trying to find a way to score early in the game, bringing out the opponents and then play a high tempo. But it takes two teams to play Premier League-style high tempo and you're not going to get that in international football. What about the other debutant, Henry, Dan Byrne? Rattled the crossbar with a powerful header, but you did mention before that you had a few concerns.

Yeah, I mean, I think he actually owns Wembley, actually, the week that he's had. I think he's even had a goat named after him up on a farm near Morpeth. And what an amazing week he's had. Also, a reminder, and I think it's non-league weekend, about just what a journey he has had. You know, there will be sort of professionals who maybe are being released by clubs.

and are thinking, am I going to ever make it? And they'll see Dan Byrne, you know, getting mad at the match in the EFL Cup final, getting his first call-up, first start for England at 32 and see that persistence can be rewarded. He's played for non-league, Blue Square Premier, I think it was, with Darlington, played all the way up through the divisions. And look at him now in England International with the biggest success

smile around. So, but I agree with you. I thought he was a little bit caught out at times. I mean, I think, you know, Levi Colwell is an outstanding prospect at the left-sided centre-half. Mark Gay can play well there. I thought Konzer, along with Lewis Skelly, was the sort of pick of the defenders. But yeah, look, it's an issue, England in defence. And just...

echoing Augie's point very quickly. And this is something that Tuchel said and we asked him about. England can't go to the World Cup in America and play a high-pressing, high-intensity Premier League style of game in those conditions. I covered USA 94 and it took me about a month to sort of cool down afterwards.

Because it was, honestly, it's really, it's ridiculously hot. So just look at the temperatures and then just think you might need to have more of a possession game against the elite teams and then mix it up by unleashing bursts of pace out wide. Absolutely. More broadly, that back four, Mark, before we take a break, Walker, Konsa, Byrne and Lewis Skelly, in a strange way, you wouldn't have thought it a few months ago, but could Lewis Skelly maybe be the only guaranteed starter if we look forward to the USA?

Well, yeah, Kyle Walker, 34 now. I think he might struggle to make it to the US. Obviously, other options there, Rhys James, Trent Alexander-Arnold when he's fit. So I don't think there's a shortage of right-backs. Centre-half, I think Mark Gray comes into it as well. I thought Esri Konca would be a good shout. He played well tonight. But, you know, there are options there. But like Henry says, they're not all...

in form or fully fit so I think Dan Byrne yes I think he was cut out a couple of times tonight but I think he offers a great option from set pieces we know he might find it difficult to get to the World Cup but I think right now he's on cloud nine the fact that he scored a goal in the cup final played for England it's a great story nobody wants to say anything negative about Dan Byrne because he's such a great story and like Henry said he's a great smile but we have to be realistic I think when the World Cup comes around there'll be probably defenders ahead of him at that time

Welcome back. You're watching Back Pages tonight. And welcome back to the ESPN, senior writer Mark Ogden and sports broadcaster Henry Winter. Let's hear now, though, from Thomas Tuchel, who's been critical of the performances of Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden. Both players were handed starts in wide positions as England beat Albania 2-0. I think both of our wingers who started were not as impactful as they normally can be, as they are normally in club football.

"I'm at the moment not so sure why we struggled to bring the ball quicker to them, to bring the ball in more open position to them. I need to review the match. I'm not so sure why it took us so long. I think we lacked a little bit runs off the ball, so it was a bit too much passing, not enough dribbling, not enough carrying the ball and driving with the ball and not aggressive enough towards goal.

They trained very well. They were decisive in training. That's why also they deserve. They were very good in the last weeks in their clubs. We will keep on encouraging them and make sure to create a structure for them that they can show their potential. Okay, so lacked impact at Fodenham Rashford according to Tuchel. Henry, your thoughts on the wide players?

Well, first, it's nice to see Marcus Rashford playing again, playing for England again and smiling again. I mean, he's only had, what, four starts for Aston Villa in nine appearances. It's going to take him time to get his sharpness back. I was surprised he was in the squad so soon. I was surprised he started ahead of Anthony Gordon.

I think there are elements of a link-up with Bellingham which were encouraging. But I think that the pace was there and he ran at his defender, but it was just a final ball. The radar wasn't quite there. Foden on the right-hand side. I mean, we have to look at Phil Foden and his workload. He's played now for club and country 110 games since the start of last season.

That is, I know players are well paid and they're fantastically well looked after. He's got this sort of hunger and this ability to play. But, you know, there's no real surprise if an element of fatigue does catch up with one or two players, particularly younger players who were just, particularly someone like Foden, who's been outstanding season after season. So maybe there's an element there. I thought Foden was coming in inside a lot, you know, potentially linking up well. But we all know that when Bakayasak is fit, he's England's starting right winger.

Four goals for Phil Foden in 43 caps. He's played a lot of late mark, but is there a deeper issue there? As good as he is for Manchester City, has he ever excelled for England? Well, he probably hasn't, no. I think that could be down to where he's played at the time, because obviously last season he was outstanding for Man City, he was Football of the Year, he was brilliant. But the fact that we had this little debate about a month or two ago about Thomas Tuchel not watching enough games in England and spending a lot of time in Germany, well, maybe he's thinking this is Phil Foden from last year and saving Marcus Rashford, because...

just like Henry said I was surprised that Rashford made the squad and I'm surprised that Foden started because neither of them played particularly well for the clubs Marcus Rashford has had a terrible season at Man Utd he's gone to Aston Villa I think some of the suggestions that he's had a great start has been a bit overblown he's not scored a goal yet like Henry said his appearance rate is quite low he shouldn't have been in the team Phil Foden I think

I think Phil Foden's a real talent, but he's had a difficult season at City. He started it in a difficult way. He started it late. I think he's had a bit of an illness that he had to overcome at the start of the season. So I was surprised that both those started the game. And, you know, Bakayosaka would get in every time. Then you've got Cole Palmer to fit in as well. Gordon, when he's fit, I think it's going to be hard for Rashford and Foden in their current form to stay in the squad. I think Foden's got a better chance than Rashford, but I know that Tuka likes Rashford. He tried to sign him at PSG and at Chelsea. So, you know, maybe that's what's keeping Rashford in the squad right now.

Interesting on Rashford. Henry, what are your thoughts on Phil Foden in the sense, we circle back to where we were, I suppose, in terms of the tens. Does Phil Foden make an England XI when everyone's fit? Does he have to stake a claim in probably not his favourite position if he is to? He has to be in the squad because he's such a talent.

But no, I don't see him starting either. As a 10, you're going to have Bellingham or Palmer in there, maybe Bellingham slightly deeper. On the right, as Mark says, Bakayasaka. I mean, if you were picking, if Thomas Tuchel was picking England wingers on form, he would have started with Gordon and Bowen today. I mean, Bowen has been outstanding. Maybe we'll see him against Latvia on Monday.

The Rashford thing is fascinating. And there's always that element of clubs going and buying players who've had fantastic games against them. And Marcus Rashford had two of his best games for Manchester United in the Champions League against PSG when Tuchel was manager there. He scored two really important late goals, one, I think, in a knockout game and one in a group stage game. So maybe there was an element of that, of Tuchel going back quite far in his diary thinking, oh, this Rashford's good.

But look, Rashford has a superb talent and just to see him playing again is really encouraging. But Mark's right about Aston Villa. You know, his two best linkups have been with Oli Watkins, who's not in this squad, and Marco Asensio, who mainly speaks Spanish, is never going to be in the England squad.

Yeah, we could hope, couldn't we? But I think Asensio, yeah, that's sealed for now. A quick thought, I'll get back to Mark in a second, but you broke the Rashford story about wanting to leave Manchester United, Henry. Mark alluded to it there. Are we partly maybe to blame this sometimes in the media? We got maybe carried away with the Rashford redemption story at Villa, as Mark says, the stats aren't exactly overwhelming with how he's played so far.

I think the person who deserves most credit in this, along with Marcus Rashford, is Unai Emery and John McGinn, who's been brilliant backstage at Villa and welcoming Marcus Rashford in and just sort of making him realize and appreciate what an amazing club Aston Villa is. The whole 10, obviously, you know, the Aston Villa fans have been unconditional in their support and welcome of Marcus Rashford. I mean, Oggy's right. I mean, you know, he still needs to sort of regain that sharpness.

But he's regained the happiness, the joy of playing. You can see that. And that's such an important thing with Marcus Rashford, who needs to feel loved and needs to be sort of given the ball high up the pitch and told to unleash all that pace and the skill on a full-back and then just work on that decisive final ball, which clearly wasn't there today. Yes, if he plays on Monday, Anthony Gordon unfortunately seems to have carried an injury, which Thomas Tuchel is a bit concerned about. So we'll see if he's fit.

Mirror headline here, Tuchel's miles ahead. Lewis Skelly and Kane get new boss off to a flying start. Latvia on Monday. What do you think that he'll be looking for in that, Mark? Do you feel that finding someone who's going to be a regular goal scorer alongside Kane could be, again, integral? Yeah, I mean, listen, there was a debate about Harry Kane during the Euros, wasn't there, whether he could make it to the World Cup, but...

I think he obviously has to because there's nobody challenging Harry Kane. Ollie Watkins hasn't had as productive a season at Villa as we'd expect. I think Latvia, they struggle to beat, I think it's Andorra tonight, so Latvia should be much an easier game than Albania. You look at the Latvia squad, there's not many people that fans in the UK would recognise, so England should actually win that game quite comfortably. I think it's a case of Tuukka looking for more patterns of play, opening the team up a little bit more. His wing has been more proactive, trying to get crosses into the box.

But we'll wait and see what Latvia at home should be a much more comfortable night than it was against Albania for quite a long time tonight. Latvia won 1-0 away at Andorra. We've got about 90 seconds remaining in the programme. Henry, what are you hoping for on Monday night? No injuries, more understandings. I mean...

Maybe at some point he's going to have to move Liam de Lappe up from the under-21s because I think long term you have a potential. But no one, no, everyone's going to be in Harry Kane's shadow because he's such a magnificent player. 70 international goals in 104 games is phenomenal. It might be an England record that's never beaten, but he has to start blooding in potential understudies or cover to Harry Kane.

Any players that you'd like to see? Henry's been impressed with Morgan Gibbs-White in the cool-down there, the session for the squad players. Is there a case for trying to find someone who can dribble a bit, Mark, to try and break down a defence? Yeah, I mean, I was surprised that Gibbs-White didn't make the squad in the first place, but he wasn't even on the bench tonight, was he, Morgan Gibbs-White? So I think

Tuka maybe doesn't see something there but I think what England need to find is is someone that can be a regular a reliable understudy for Harry Kane or even put pressure on Harry Kane I'd like to see De Lappe in there maybe he's not ready yet but I still think you know you have to give him the chance because he's had a good season for Ipswich this year but it's a hard one because

The international game is so different, it takes a while to adjust to it. We've seen with Rashford at times he had a great start and then it faded away. We're talking about folding. You could play folding through the middle, he's had success at Everman City, that could be an option to find the best out of him if Harry Kane isn't playing well. But it's Harry Kane all the time, isn't it? Harry Kane scores goals whether he's playing well or not. He is absolutely flying, 70 of them for England. Thank you very much, gents. Quick thumbs up, thumbs down, England to win the World Cup, 15, 16 months out, what do you think?

He's in the middle. We'll take it easy. Henry's not biting. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Coming to Wembley as well. Great stuff. If you missed any of the show, another chance to see Back Pages tonight at half past the hour. Also available as a podcast. Download Back Pages on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.