Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has issued a stark warning to Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly, suggesting the teenager's place in England's World Cup squad is under serious threat due to his lack of playing time at club level.
Club Form Threatens International Ambitions
The 19-year-old defender was a notable absentee from England manager Thomas Tuchel's squad for the November internationals against Serbia and Albania. This omission comes after Lewis-Skelly lost his starting position at Arsenal to summer signing Riccardo Calafiori.
Lewis-Skelly has managed just 87 minutes of Premier League football this season and has yet to start a single top-flight match for the Gunners. This limited action is causing significant concern as the young left-back is desperate to secure his role for England ahead of next year's World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The Battle for England's Left-Back
Keane, speaking as a pundit on ITV, highlighted the intense competition Lewis-Skelly faces. The Arsenal prospect is in a direct fight with Manchester City's Nico O'Reilly for the starting left-back position in the national team.
The situation became more challenging for Lewis-Skelly after O'Reilly delivered an impressive performance in England's 2-0 victory over Serbia. Playing ahead of O'Reilly on the left flank was Marcus Rashford, and the pair displayed a compelling understanding.
"It's a strong looking [England] team [for the World Cup]," Keane stated. "There's probably a few positions up for grabs. I still think [it should be] Rashford and O'Reilly, but people can build up relationships. We saw that the other night and that can happen over the next few months."
Tuchel's Verdict and Transfer Speculation
Echoing Keane's sentiments, England boss Thomas Tuchel provided a blunt assessment of Lewis-Skelly's situation. He confirmed that the defender was "out-performed" by O'Reilly for his place in the latest squad.
"Myles simply needs more starts, more minutes," Tuchel declared this month. "Now came a time when O'Reilly had so many starts in that position, so he is slightly ahead for this camp."
With the January transfer window approaching, Lewis-Skelly's predicament has not gone unnoticed. A number of unnamed Premier League clubs are reportedly monitoring his availability, with former Tottenham player Jamie O'Hara claiming the teenager would be a guaranteed starter for 18 of the 20 top-flight clubs.
Keane concluded with a final piece of advice for the young Gunner, acknowledging his quality but stressing the importance of regular football. "Lewis-Skelly, I still think he is a good player [for England] if he can get back into the first-team at Arsenal. Really good options."
