‘Didn’t surprise me’ - Man City coach gives Rico Lewis verdict as he reaches major landmark

Rico Lewis could join an esteemed group on Sunday if he plays for Manchester City at Nottingham Forest.

The defender, who only made his first-team debut at the beginning of last season, has enjoyed a spectacular rise in the last 18 months and has now firmly established himself as a vital member of Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad. That’s not to forget winning a treble in his maiden year as a senior professional, a first England call-up last year, and he earned high praise from Pep Guardiola in October, when the City boss claimed that Lewis is ‘one of the best I ever trained by far’.

The teenager will reach another mini milestone on Sunday if he features at the City Ground, when he would become just the third academy graduate of the Abu Dhabi era to reach 50 senior appearances for the club, along with Phil Foden and Kelechi Iheanacho.

It’s an achievement that will feel significant for Lewis and the coaches that helped him reach this stage. Ben Wilkinson coached the Under-18 side that Lewis captained to league and cup success just two years, and speaking in a recent interview with ManchesterWorld, said the defender’s progression has not come as a surprise.

“I remember that season two years ago, he was always someone who I felt had the potential to play in our first team because of the type of player he is and what the manager wants,” said Wilkinson.

“But I am surprised how quickly it happened and how much confidence the manager had in him. But, knowing him, it didn’t surprise me that once he got the opportunity over there that he was successful.

“He’s an unbelievable kid, his workrate is outstanding and his brain is as good as I’ve ever seen and he improves. From the manager’s point of view, he’s the perfect player to have in your group. He’s nearly on 50 appearances which is a very steep acceleration in terms of his trajectory.”

Now Lewis, along with the likes of Foden, Cole Palmer and James McAtee are providing a shining example of the quality coming through the City ranks and, importantly from a coaching perspective, that a pathway is available for the current underage sides.

“It’s unrealistic to think we’re going to have a first team with six or seven academy graduates in it. You have the best players in the world in most of their positions,” said Wilkinson. “I think what the academy has proved in recent years is that when the players have stepped up into the first-team arena they have coped and haven't looked out of place. 

“Rico is close to 50 games now and he could still play Under-18s football last year. His physical profile isn’t incredible but his brain and the way he played in the Under-18s, it’s the same as now.

“So I do think that gives us confidence and also confidence in the level of player. Someone like Cole, what he has done this season is outstanding. But it’s hard to do that here because the standard is so high.

“There’s probably another group of players who are in the middle at the moment - McAtee, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, James Trafford, we have a really strong pool for five or six years of quality that we feel is capable of playing Premier League and international football - whether that’s here or elsewhere and is making money for the football club and the avenues that are available.”