Rico Lewis is an ‘outstanding’ footballer and gives Gareth Southgate another ‘real option’ after making his England debut, insists Joe Cole, as the Man City youngster continues his meteoric rise

• Rico Lewis made his senior England debut on Monday against North Macedonia
• The Manchester City youngster starred for Gareth Southgate’s side at left-back
• Trent and Bellingham can play together but can’t get in each other’s way – IAKO

Rico Lewis has been labelled as an ‘outstanding’ player by Joe Cole after making his senior England debut in Monday’s 1-1 draw against North Macedonia.

The Manchester City youngster was given the nod by Gareth Southgate to start at left-back for England in the absence of the injured Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell as the Three Lions topped their qualifying group.

Lewis celebrated his first England cap just a day before his 19th birthday, but endured a difficult start after being deemed to have given away a penalty following VAR’s intervention.

Having already rose through the ranks at Man City to become a mainstay in Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad, Lewis boasts an adaptability to play in both defence and midfield.

His versatility gives Southgate another option to consider when the time comes to pick his final squad for next year’s European Championship and former England international, Cole, hailed Lewis as ‘outstanding’ after Monday’s game.

Rico Lewis made his senior England debut in Monday’s 1-1 draw against North Macedonia

Lewis starred and was handed England’s player of the match award after the game

Gareth Southgate deployed Lewis at left-back as England topped their Euros qualifying group

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‘Outstanding,’ Cole told Channel 4 when analysing Lewis’ performance against North Macedonia. 

‘Pep Guardiola waxed lyrical about him and tonight he was so difficult to pick up for the opposition. 

‘He allowed England to build through the lines much better than they did against Malta. He was effective. I think he is an outstanding footballer and given Gareth Southgate another real option in that position.’

Fellow former professional Joleon Lescott echoed similar comments and hailed the City youngster for not looking out of place alongside his more experienced team-mates.

Lescott added: ‘He came in and it didn’t look like his debut and that is the biggest compliment. He showed a lot of composure and even the penalty didn’t affect him.’

Lewis demonstrated his maturity after recovering from the controversial penalty call earlier in the match to produce a brilliant all-round performance.

Man City and England team-mate Kyle Walker (middle) heaped praise on Lewis after his debut

Joe Cole (right) described Lewis as an ‘outstanding’ player following England’s draw

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has overseen Lewis’ meteoric rise at club level in recent times

England captain Harry Kane backed Lewis to try and make it into the next Three Lions squad

His efforts were rewarded with England’s player of the match award and other England stars heaped praise on the youngster at full-time.

National team captain Harry Kane insisted Lewis should be ‘proud’ of his debut outing and backed him to try and make the next England squad.

Kane said: ‘The boy is really good, really good without ball or with ball. Shame about penalty but he can be very proud with his debut. Keep working hard and be back with us trying to work on the pitch.’

Lewis’ Man City colleague and stand-in England skipper for the night added: ‘He is a great lad, shows day in day out his qualifiers and to pay for team like we have he deserves this.’

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