Myles Lewis-Skelly could hold key to Thomas Tuchel solving age-old England midfield problem | OneFootball

Roles of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane offer insight into Thomas Tuchel’s vision

Thomas Tuchel's England made it two wins out of two in World Cup qualifying with a routine 3-0 victory over Latvia at Wembley.

Reece James’ curling 30-yard free-kick earned England a 38th-minute breakthrough against an ultra-defensive visiting side, who defended robustly in the first half.

Here are three England talking points from the match...

Lewis-Skelly may hold key to unlocking England

It took a moment of brilliance from an England full-back to open up this one-sided qualifier against a ludicrously-defensive Latvia, James marking his first international appearance in two-and-a-half years with a stunning free-kick to break the deadlock.

It was a nice moment for James, who has been plagued by injuries since winning his last cap in September 2022 but has immediately been given a route back to prominence by Tuchel, his former head coach at Chelsea.

Arguably more significant for England’s long-term development under the German, however, was the display of his other full-back, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The 18-year-old kept his place at left-back after scoring on his England debut against Albania on Friday, and reprised his role from the second half of that game by inverting into midfield when the hosts were in possession – which was more or less always.

With Lewis-Skelly forming a two with his club-mate Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers was given licence to get forward and interchange with Jude Bellingham at No.10.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has helped provide balance to the England midfield

REUTERS

It was a progressive and fluid system, albeit against a desperately limited opposition, which raises the question of whether Lewis-Skelly could solve not just one but several issues for Tuchel.

The teenager has already made a compelling claim to be England’s starting left-back but by inverting next to Rice, he can free up a forward-thinking midfielder – Rogers, Curtis Jones or even Cole Palmer – to push forward.

It is a system which potentially allows Tuchel to accommodate more of his attacking midfielders and alleviates the issue of who provides balance next to Rice, which plagued Gareth Southgate (who admittedly did not have an option like Lewis-Skelly available).

Given Latvia’s level, the approach will need to be tested against better opposition but the prospect of Lewis-Skelly unlocking more than one of England’s historic problem positions is intriguing.

Lively Rashford missing end product

Tuchel wanted to see more from wingers Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden against Latvia after their ineffective displays in the 2-0 win over Albania.

While Foden dropped to the bench, Rashford kept his place on the left wing, tasked with taking on his full-back and getting crosses into the box for Kane, Rogers and Bellingham.

And that is exactly what he did. The on-loan Aston Villa forward was relentlessly positive, always looking to drive at full-back Roberts Savalnieks with the ball or dart in behind the Latvia back five.

The problem was that his final ball was mixed and a succession of Rashford’s crosses, usually after cutting inside on his preferred right foot, came to nothing.

It was hard to find fault with Rashford’s application, only his end product, suggesting the 27-year-old is still working his way back to full sharpness following a rough first half of the season at parent club Manchester United.

After all, he is still yet to score for Villa and it did not help Rashford’s cause that Eze quickly added to the goals after coming on in his position down the left.

Marcus Rashford’s final ball was inconsistent in a busy display

Action Images via Reuters

Kane now England’s fox in the box?

It became the norm for Kane to be an all-action centre-forward under Southgate, prone to dropping back into midfield and as much a creative force and master goal-scorer.

Tuchel, though, has ordered Kane to stop dropping so deep – occasionally popping up at No.10 is allowed but not the centre of the pitch – and the result has been quiet displays and two poacher’s goals.

For the second time in four days, Kane latched onto a Declan Rice cross at the far post to score, though he had far less to do than against Albania on Friday.

After his flat performances at the Euros, which suggested Kane may not quite have the legs to dominate the entire top half of the pitch for England, perhaps the captain under Tuchel will be more of a finisher, who only comes alive when it really matters in the box?

Mandating Kane with little more than scoring would arguably be a waste of his talent and come with questions in tournament football but so far it has been effective.