KEIR RADNEDGE at WEMBLEY: New England manager Thomas Tuchel wsas thrilled with the display of Arsenal teenager Miles Lewis-Skelly as the Three Lions opened their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 Group K win over Albania at Wembley.

Lewis-Skelly marked his debut with England’s early opening goal and was acclaimed man of the match for a sterling performance both defending and attacking from the left flank.

Tuchel said: “He was amazing in the training camp, full of humour, such an amazing character. He has a natural confidence and this is how he plays football. He is full of quality and even more the fact that he could open this game for us was amazing. He’s a fantastic football player.”

England’s third-ever foreign admitted he was nervous before the game which he described as “a great experience.” However, though he was satisfied with the result, he thought the overall performance left a lot to be desired.

Tuchel said: “We started quite fluid but it was difficult to penetrate their penalty box. When we got behind the lines we were dangerous [but when] we wanted to increase our rhythm in the second half I felt it was not disciplined enough in the structure.

“We tried a little bit too much alone and out of position and we were not organised well enough to control the counter attacks. It was a difficult opponent but we got our first win, first clean sheet and hopefully some confidence to get quickly better and go on from there.

“We will get better. I will understand the players better – why it was hard to provide more runs and aggressive movements in the last third. We will get better but it’s step by step.”

Albania coach Sylvinho was happy to escape so lightly.

He said: “It’s a different level for us, here, playing against some of the best players in the world. We did our best and I’m proud of my players. If they hadn’t done their best we could have conceded five or six goals.”

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