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      How Myles Lewis-Skelly could be Tuchel’s secret weapon as Harry Kane shows he’s England’s best finisher AND passer

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      THOMAS TUCHEL got his reign as England boss underway with two wins and two clean sheets. Victories over Albania and Latvia at Wembley ensured the Three Lions made the perfect start to their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign. Myles Lewis-Skelly became the youngest senior England debutant to scoreCredit: GettyThomas Tuchel made the perfect start to life as England managerCredit: GettyHarry Kane found the net in both wins while Reece James’ free-kick and an Eberechi Eze finish was enough to see of Latvia.Against Albania, meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly became the youngest player to score on his senior England debut aged just 18 years and 176 days. But what else did we learn from the German boss’ opening fixtures in charge?SunSport’s tactical guru Dean Scoggins gives the breakdown in the latest episode of Tactics Exposed…READ MORE ON FOOTBALL1. COVERING THE MYLESIt was a brave call but I expected Lewis-Skelly to start at left-back. He has been fantastic for Arsenal.He played two different roles in the two matches. In the first, he played as a conventional left-back, much more up the outside.That allowed the wingers to come off the wing and that’s where he got his goal, overlapping and latching on to Jude Bellingham’ magical pass.Against Latvia, Lewis-Skelly played a bit more like he does for Arsenal as an inverted left-back, getting on the ball more in midfield positions.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKLewis-Skelly played two different full-back rolesCredit: SunSportAgainst Albania he stayed wide – which is how he got his goalCredit: SunSportHe played inverted against LatviaCredit: SunSportThat saw him pick the ball up in midfieldCredit: SunSportReece James can do both on the other sideCredit: SunSportTuchel trusted an 18-year-old to do that – he is confident in Lewis-Skelly.On the other side, Tuchel loves Reece James and he is a player comfortable coming inside or around the outside. ‘I don’t expect anything’ Roy Keane savages England star after below-par display in Thomas Tuchel’s first gameI love his dynamism, physicality and he can be as good as Trent Alexander-Arnold from a dead-ball situation. 2. RICE… NAUGHTY AND NICEDeclan Rice is a fabulous football and one of the first names on the team sheet but it was a bit of a conundrum in these games. He became almost a bit of a problem where the midfield gets so congested and the two No10s are in the areas where he likes to run forward into.He becomes the bonafide No6 but the best parts of his game are not his quick one-touch passes through the lines.Declan Rice played as the solo No6Credit: SunSportHe struggled to have the impact he would have wantedCredit: SunSportRice often found himself in the wayCredit: SunSportThe Arsenal man could not play to his strengthsCredit: SunSportThe spaces he usually runs into were already occupiedCredit: SunSportHis underlapping run teed up Harry Kane’s goalCredit: SunSportIt felt like Rice was playing a bit-part role, sitting there in case England lost possession. He was wasted and I was shouting, ‘Get out of the way!’In the second match, though, he makes the driving underlap run for that brilliant assist for Kane. Tuchel is thinking about his team at the World Cup and obviously Rice plays – but they need to figure out how to use him against lesser opposition. 3. IMPERFECT TENSTuchel has to shape the team around the talisman Bellingham – he is the best English player in Europe. Bellingham showed his quality to unlock Albania with that amazing pass. He grew up playing football with Morgan Rogers but that chemistry between them at international level needs a bit of work. They were getting in each others’ way and there was a lot of pointing – it was like a traffic jam. Albeit that was against teams that parked the bus. The No10s lacked fluency with lots of players taking up similar positionsCredit: SunSportThey were often in each others’ wayCredit: SunSportJarrod Bowen tends to drift infieldCredit: SunSportThe central areas got overoccupied – even without Cole Palmer in the teamCredit: SunSportPhil Foden came out of the congested area for the Eze goal which was very clever.Plus you have to throw Cole Palmer in there when he is fit and Bukayo Saka will be on the right.Tuchel knows he cannot take them all but it’s not a bad problem to have as a manager choosing between Bellingham, Foden, Palmer and Rogers. 4. GIVE PACE A CHANCEObviously Saka will come back in. He is England’s best winger and he was really missed.I was a bit disappointed by Marcus Rashford’s ambition and that may be to do with confidence.He had a lot of tactical instructions to deal with and he did them. The interchange with Bellingham and Lewis-Skelly was really good. The enormous frustration with Rashford is that he doesn’t beat his man – he is one-v-one against a Latvian full-back with a massive space in behind.Either play a one-two and go or beat him with his first touch. Tuchel gave him two opportunities by starting him in both matches – he needed the wingers to keep their width against Latvia to allow space for the inverted full-backs to come inside. His darting run stretches the defence which allows Rice to set up the Kane goal. Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and Lewis-Skelly rotated down the leftCredit: SunSportThe on-loan Aston Villa refused to take on his full-backCredit: SunSportHe stretched the Latvia defence before the Kane goalCredit: SunSportIt was half good and half not quite so positive from Rashford. Bowen and Rashford naturally come inside with their first touch but I was impressed by Eze, he ran at his full-back and we saw what happened. 5. KEEP CALM AND HARRY ONKane is my favourite ever footballer and I marvel at him. Anyone who has the nerve to suggest he shouldn’t play for England doesn’t watch enough football.Yes, he scores lots of goals against Albanians and Latvians. But away from his ability to finish – who else is scoring those goals? – it is his movement that is why he scores all those goals. The finish against Latvia is easy but it’s the movement before anybody else that makes it – it is top level. Kane appeared to have a simple tap-inCredit: GettyIt was his movement that made the goal look easyCredit: SunSportHe drifted out at the back post to create spaceCredit: SunSportKane produced a stunning finish against AlbaniaCredit: AlamyHe knows where the ball will end up and is the only one around the back post to tap it in.The goal against Albania was utter genius.Most people take the shot early and it hits the defender. Not Harry Kane.He pauses for a split second and he side-foots it into the corner. If we are going to win a major tournament, it will be with Kane in the team.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe played more as an out-and-out No9 in these games but his natural instinct is still to link the play. He is the best passer in the team. He is the best finisher in the team. More

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      How Thomas Tuchel will excite England fans by unleashing new style of play in bid for World Cup glory

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      THOMAS TUCHEL will take charge of his first England match tonight as the Three Lions kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign.The former Chelsea boss, who was confirmed as Gareth Southgate’s permanent successor back in October, has already raised some eyebrows with his squad selection.Thomas Tuchel will take charge of his first England match tonightCredit: GettyJordan Henderson was granted a return to the fold, while 32-year-old Dan Burn earned his first call-up.Tuchel is determined to transform England into “the team to beat” ahead of the 2026 World Cup and is therefore set to make some major tactical changes.In the latest episode of SunSport’s Tactics Exposed, our expert DEAN SCOGGINS looks at what the German head coach might choose to do differently.How will England set up?Tuchel is NOT just a three-at-the-back man. It’s not just down to a formation with him.Read More in FootballTuchel favoured a four-at-the-back formation at Borussia DortmundAt PSG it was a three-at-the-back with wing-backsIt was a 3-4-2-1 at ChelseaHe reverted to four-at-the-back for BayernIt’s about the players he has available.At Dortmund, he used four at the back and an adaptive set-up in attack.At PSG, he started with a three-at-the-back, moved to a four-at-the-back and then went to a three-at-the-back again.He tried to evolve a team around Neymar, so he could attempt to do something similar with the England team.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThen at Chelsea he used wing-backs with three at the back – he even won the Champions League with it.But, do England have the wing backs to do that?Thomas Tuchel blasts Gareth Southgate’s England as ‘more afraid to drop out of Euro 2024 than hungry to win it’ And then at Bayern Munich, he went back to four at the back again.It’s going to be difficult to predict what Tuchel might do, so, we’ve looked at some potential options…Set-upDefensively, there are some big question marks.There is no John Stones in this squad, no Harry Maguire, no real, natural left-back.Myles Lewis-Skelly could be used as an inverted full-back, pushing into midfield alongside Declan RiceCredit: GettyDan Burn may also get some game timeCredit: ReutersMyles Lewis-Skelly has been outstanding for Arsenal, so we could see Kyle Walker play in the right-back position and the teenager in the left-back position,Lewis-Skelly would then likely act as an inverted full-back – a role that has become common in the Premier League.It would see the Arsenal star shift into midfield, forming a back-three with potentially Walker, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi.Dan Burn could even be given a chance at centre-back.Alternatively, Burn could play as a left-back with Reece James at right-back.James might then be the man to move into midfield, leaving the Newcastle star in the back three.However, the key for Tuchel is getting the best out of his attacking players.Throughout the team there are some other big question marks.Does Jude Bellingham play as the 10? Or does Phil Foden play as a 10 with Bellingham dropping back as an eight with Declan Rice?England will also be without Bukayo Saka for the next two games.Jarrod Bowen could be given a start out on the right, with either Marcus Rashford or Anthony Gordon on the left.Tuchel is into the rotation of players and getting the best out of those who are available to him.Therefore, we could see a three-at-the-back on Friday and a four-a-the-back on Monday.Tuchel will be looking for the two wingers to provide width, which will allow the No.10 to push forward along with another midfielder.That will allow for a 3-2-5 formation going forward. With five players in the attacking third, more options become available.Wingers will therefore be able to interchange and come inside to play off Harry Kane, which is important for Tuchel.Exciting footballWith England, there is no excuse. The players are there to score loads of goals.The best goal-scoring number nine in Europe, the best number eight in Europe in Bellingham. Tuchel might also be able to get more out of Foden in an England squad.When he is fully fit, Cole Palmer will be in there as well.England fans should expect a much higher pressing game than we saw under Southgate.Who will be No10?The 10 position is what Tuchel looks at in his squad and how he’s going to get the best out of his No.10.At Dortmund, he had Ilkay Gundogan in that side – Tuchel got the best out of him.At Bayern, it was Jamal Musiala. At PSG, it was Neymar.With England, it’s Jude Bellingham.Tuchel has to get the best out of Bellingham. He is the talisman.Bellingham is expected to be Tuchel’s chosen No10England are going to get goals from Kane if they give him the ball, there are also loads of options in the wide areas.But how do they get the best out of the No10 playing off Kane?Before, under Southgate, that area of the pitch was too congested because the wingers were not wide enough and the defensive players were pushing too high.Tuchel will want to keep the wingers wide to give the central attacking players – including two potential No10s – more space.The head coach needs to get the best out of the first names on the team sheet, especially Bellingham.Aside from Kane, who will be in attack?Bowen, Gordon and Rashford all like to come inside from their wings.Tuchel had plenty of success with those type of players at Borussia Dortmund, such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the wing alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.Jarrod Bowen could start on the right in the absence of SakaCredit: AlamyThose players – along with the likes of Gundogan and Shinji Kagawa in midfield – regularly rotated, which benefited the team as a whole.Tuchel wants his attacking stars to move in between positions, which could help to get the best out of the likes of Kane and Bellingham.Which future stars could shine under Tuchel?There’s a feeling around the camp that the Under-21s are as good as the first team at the moment.Ethan Nwaneri has been a revelation at Arsenal in the absence of Saka, who is also not in the team due to injury.Lewis-Skelly is in the squad, but Adam Wharton missed out – even though Tuchel likes to rely on a ball-playing midfielder who links play, which isn’t necessarily Rice’s game.READ MORE SUN STORIESLewis Hall would also be a good option at left-back for future fixtures.The Newcastle ace has been ruled out for the rest of this season with a foot injury.The human tuchENGLAND’S new boss Thomas Tuchel has announced his first squad – to mixed reaction. 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      How clever Howe’s brave tactic and Isak’s ‘go, stop, go’ mastery can finally end Newcastle’s trophy drought at Wembley

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      A HUGE chunk of Newcastle fans have never seen their side lift a trophy – but Sunday could finally be the day.It’s been 70 years since the Toon celebrated getting their hands on some silverware, when they beat Manchester City to win the 1955 FA Cup.Newcastle haven’t won a trophy since the 1955 FA Cup win over Man CityCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdEddie Howe has some huge calls to make ahead of the Wembley showdown with LiverpoolCredit: GettyHow Liverpool and Newcastle’s star men compare ahead of the Carabao Cup finalThe 1968-69 Fairs Cup triumph aside, the Magpies have been left utterly deprived of titles.But on Sunday, Eddie Howe’s squad have the chance to finally break that horrendous drought when they take on Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.And in the latest episode of SunSport’s Tactics Exposed, our tactics expert DEAN SCOGGINS looks at where Newcastle can hurt the Reds and finally end their silverware misery.Here are Dean’s three top observations…READ MORE SPORT STORIES1. Isak’s ‘go, stop, go’ can hurt Van Dijk.. againAlexander Isak did a very, very cool thing against Virgil van Dijk when they played in at St James’ Park earlier in the season, which finished 3-3… I’m going to call it “go, stop, go”.We’ve got a fairly similar formation set up for both teams – they’re going to set up as 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, fairly similar.But the most important thing, what we’ll see straight away is Liverpool’s back four are going to be against Newcastle’s attacking three.Isak will be the man to try and take on Ibrahima Konate and Van Dijk by himself, because Newcastle will go man for man in a lot of other areas on the field – Howe backs them to win individual duels all over the pitch.Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsBut what Isak did in that first game at St James’ Park against Van Dijk and Konate, is move forward, first of all, which makes these two defenders go drop back.Then he stops so he can receive the ball… and then he goes again. So then he’s faced you up as a defender.Eddie Howe determined to end Newcastle’s trophy drought in Carabao Cup final Alexander Isak has had some success with Virgil van Dijk already this season and his ‘go, stop, go’ strategy could reap the rewardsCredit: GettyAnd then, does the defender start to narrow the gap like Van Dijk would naturally do? And then when he picks the ball up, he’s running to the side, which is where he scored his goal from earlier in the season.Of course, if the defenders do get in a great position and block his path, and he receives the ball into feet, that’s when you get your runner from this side, who’s likely to be Harvey Barnes in the cup final because we’ve got no Anthony Gordon.And then you get Jacob Murphy coming up the other side with his pace the other way, running into these channels because Isak has made that narrow space there.Are Van Dijk and Konate going to be able to make a decision between them? You know, like the old one-to-one defending, “you go to him and I’ll drop”…Or as soon as they get flat, they’ve got a problem because he’s going to make a run in between around the outsides of them.He’s going to be a big handful.2. Joelinton surprise key to stopping SalahNewcastle have obviously got a problem where with Lewis Hall injured, they’re going to have to move Livramento to left back.It’s a shame is because what they’ve done previously against Liverpool is almost create a back five by having Hall playing the left midfield role and then Dan Burn playing left back.Burn comes inside and Hall goes back to left back, which creates a back five, which means Mo Salah’s got a double up scenario.They haven’t got that because Burn is going to have to play as the left centre back and Livramento is going to be the man who’s going to be one for one.Joelinton will be the surprise man who could be key to stopping Mo SalahCredit: GettyLewis Hall’s absence is a massive blow to Newcastle in slowing down Mo SalahCredit: GettyThe key man here is Joelinton, who’ll play to the the left of that midfield three – and there’ll have to be a decision between him and Burn about who’s going to be the double up man.That’s going to be communication between those two.. double up on him at all costs whenever you can.But the other tactical thing that I think is really important to note is that when Liverpool have the ball in defensive positions, they can be quite direct.With Newcastle pressing high, man-to-man, they’ll go direct to Salah as fast as they can – and the key thing from Newcastle defensive point of view is that they get him going away from goal.They’ll have to make sure they’re engaging him straight away. Newcastle are a very fit, very physical, very dynamic team and this approach suits them because they can go and do that and not be frightened if the ball goes in behind.So those three left-footed, left-sided players are going to be key, three of them together, in trying to stop Salah.3. Howe’s very brave and clever tacticEddie Howe is incredibly clever. When Newcastle beat Arsenal in the semi-final, the line up was much more of a back five.But they identified that often Arsenal play out through Declan Rice in that game.So instead of having a midfielder go and push onto Rice and open up the passing lanes, Fabian Schar came all the way out to press him on the edge of Arsenal’s own area and caused them loads of problems.It was a brave, brave tactic but this is what I think they could do against Liverpool.What they do now is that Bruno Guimaraes is not always the one who sits deep, he will go and press with the attack.Eddie Howe was clever and brave against Arsenal – will he be so bold in the final against Liverpool?Credit: GettyThey’ll have Isak, Guimaraes and the wingers pressing, and then you end up with a midfielder pushing up as well.And the defence doesn’t push up. So that leaves a massive corridor of space in front of the defence.But because they’re so brave with the press and they go man-to-man all over the place in attacking areas, inevitably what happens is a goalkeeper or a defender will play over the top.As soon as the ball goes into the air, the defenders are going to attack the free Liverpool man in the air and then they’re going to try and win the ball back.As soon as the ball’s in the air, Newcastle’s two hardworking midfielders will straight away come sprinting back.And then they win the ball back, they’re going at you 4v4 in the other direction.So by creating this huge space that the midfielders have to cover, they’re saying our midfield’s fitter than yours. We’re going to win more duels than you. And then we’re going to win the ball back by pressing high, but not pressing the defence up.READ MORE SUN STORIESSo I’ll be really intrigued if they do that at Wembley on that massive pitch and how long they can keep up that intensity.But by creating that big space and being very committed in the press, they could have some joy. It’s a cup final, right? Go and win it, lads. More