Rico Lewis is back in the England squad for Tuesday's UEFA Nations League fixture against the Czech Republic at Wembley. Nico O'Reilly has returned to Manchester City for further assessment after injury, and Lewis has been promoted from the Under-21 squad to give Thomas Tuchel more cover.
Lewis's recall ends a long wait. He has five senior England caps and has not played for the Three Lions since November 2024, with his most recent senior outing coming in the 3-0 win over Greece, where he played at left-back.
Lewis's England return
England confirmed that Lewis had been added ahead of the England vs Czech Republic fixture, after he helped Lee Carsley's Under-21 side qualify for the 2027 UEFA U21 European Championships. The move keeps Lewis in the senior set-up after a spell with the younger age group.
His club minutes help explain why this is a notable call. Lewis has made only three Manchester City appearances this season and has played just 57 Premier League minutes. That is a light workload for a player who has already shown he can cover at senior international level.
Tuchel's late reshuffle
The squad change also fits the wider pattern around the window. Tuchel said he would "try everything" to get O'Reilly fit, while the FA initially said no further replacements were planned before later adding Lewis. That sequence matters because it shows the decision was not fixed early in the week.
England go into the match on six points in the group, with the Czech Republic still on zero. The immediate focus is Tuesday's game at Wembley, and Lewis now has a chance to push for his first appearance under Tuchel if he is involved.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
