Arsenal duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have been told that an England call-up "will happen" if they continue performing at a high level, but they may be better off in the Under-21s for the time being.
Both teenage starlets are now regular fixtures in Mikel Arteta's first XIs after graduating from the famed Hale End academy, with Lewis-Skelly ousting Riccardo Calafiori, Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko to become the club's first-choice left-back.
The 18-year-old may have set an unwanted red card record with his sending-off against West Ham United in Saturday's 1-0 defeat, but he has nonetheless been hailed as one of the best English left-backs around at the minute.
Meanwhile, only the injured Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka have struck more goals than Nwaneri's seven for Arsenal in all tournaments this term, and their exploits have not gone unnoticed by Arsenal legend Ray Parlour.
Asked by Sports Mole if the pair should be in Thomas Tuchel's thinking for March's England squad, the three-time Premier League winner gave them the thumbs-up for a future call-up but explained why next month may come slightly too soon, saying: "In consideration yes.
"You don't want to push the young boys so soon into the England squad. They are doing really well for Arsenal and looking super composed and fearless, while performing at a high level.
"Maybe Under-21s for now, but they have a very bright future and must stay well grounded as a full England call-up will happen if they continue to play at this level week in week out for Arsenal."
The case for and against Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly England call-ups
© Imago
Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri being selected for the Under-21s instead of the first team would still represent their highest international achievements to date, as the two fledgling stars have not even been promoted past Under-19 level yet.
Both have outgrown that age group if their displays in 2024-25 are anything to go by, and England have recent when it comes to allowing players to skip the seemingly necessary Under-21s step.
Last year, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo was promoted to Gareth Southgate's senior squad without having made his debut for the Under-21s, and the 19-year-old ended up shining at Euro 2024.
In Lewis-Skelly's case, the 18-year-old should benefit from Luke Shaw's perpetual injury woes and Ben Chilwell's fall from grace, although Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell might be ahead of him in Tuchel's thinking.
On Nwaneri's side, neither Saka nor Noni Madueke will be fit to play for their country next month, although Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jarrod Bowen may be blocking his path to the England team too.
Then again, if Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are selected for the seniors, they may simply sit on the bench as opposed to starting for the Under-21s, which would increase the risk of injury at a time where Arsenal are already coping with a debilitating fitness crisis in attack.
If Gooners had their say, the two would be kept in bubble wrap at London Colney during the international break, but Tuchel should certainly be running the rule over both men before taking charge of his first Three Lions games against Albania (March 21) and Latvia (March 24) in next month's World Cup qualifiers.
Ben Knapton
