Thomas Tuchel makes controversial England U-turn as Nico O'Reilly replacement called up for Czech Republic match

England person announced that Manchester City defender Rico Lewis has been added to Thomas Tuchel's squad up of Tuesday's fixture with the Czech Republic.

The Three Lions reason their September/October planetary interruption astatine Wembley connected October 6, seeking a 3rd consecutive triumph successful League A Group 3 aft victories implicit Czechia and Croatia.

England destroyed Croatia 7-0 connected Saturday evening courtesy of goals from Harry Kane (2), Bukayo Saka (2), Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham, to cement 2nd spot successful the group.

Every subordinate of Tuchel's existent enactment was included successful the matchday squad against the Chequered Ones, arsenic Man City's Nico O'Reilly withdrew done wounded earlier the victory.

England confirmed astatine the clip that nary further replacements were planned, but successful a precocious U-turn, Tuchel volition invited Lewis into his squad for Tuesday's 4th fixture.

Rico Lewis joins England squad for Czech Republic fixture

"Rico Lewis has been added to the England squad up of Tuesday’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Czechia astatine Wembley Stadium," a connection connected englandfootball.com read.

"The full-back joins from the MU21s, having helped Lee Carsley’s squad unafraid qualification for the 2027 UEFA U21 EURO. Lewis has 5 elder caps to his name, winning the past of those successful November 2024."

Lewis played the afloat 90 for England's Under-21s against Kazakhstan and Slovakia earlier successful the planetary break, featuring arsenic a right-back against the erstwhile and a left-back against the latter.

The 21-year-old made his England debut nether Gareth Southgate successful 2023 and featured 4 times during the Carsley tenure successful precocious 2024, bringing him up to 5 caps for the nationalist team.

Lewis had not been called up to the Three Lions elder squad since November 2024, but helium volition present connection Tuchel a versatile antiaircraft alternate for Tuesday's conflict with the Czechs.

Does Rico Lewis merit England call-up?

Lewis has astir surely been added to the England ranks arsenic left-back screen for Lewis Hall, who is without an alternate aft O'Reilly pulled retired earlier the Croatia thrashing.

Tuchel is well-covered connected the other broadside with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jarell Quansah, but further injuries to Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Dan Burn mean that Hall and Myles Lewis-Skelly - to an grade - are England's lone left-sided antiaircraft options.

While Lewis has made implicit 100 appearances for Man City, helium has lone been a bit-part subordinate nether Enzo Maresca, playing conscionable 177 minutes crossed 3 matches successful the 2026-27 season.

In contrast, Tyrick Mitchell has 2 goals successful 5 Premier League games for Crystal Palace, portion Manchester United's Luke Shaw is besides available, though it makes much consciousness for Tuchel to telephone up a subordinate who had already been moving successful an England campy this month.

Tuchel could person besides selected Tottenham Hotspur's Archie Gray - different Under-21 enactment - instead, arsenic the 20-year-old offers different versatile option, though helium has played conscionable 7 games arsenic a left-back successful his nine career.

Lewis's call-up truthful makes consciousness from a applicable perspective, but his promotion amid a deficiency of starts for Man City means that Tuchel's determination is arguable nonetheless.