Lewis proving he can be an integral part of City’s squad, says Howey | OneFootball

Rico Lewis’s superb first-half display against Bayern Munich was positive proof he can be an integral part of City’s squad during the 2023/24 campaign, says Steve Howey.

Having made a memorable first team breakthrough in our historic Treble campaign, the teenager impressed again in Wednesday’s second match of our Asia Tour as we beat the Bundesliga champions 2-1 in Tokyo.

Deployed in an advanced midfield role, Lewis produced an accomplished performance, catching the eye both with his distribution, vision and energy before coming off at the break as one of eight changes.

Lewis played a pivotal part in the build up to James McAtee’s opener before a late strike from Aymeric Laporte ensured City made it two wins out of two in Japan.

And speaking in the latest edition of our Matchday Live show former City and England central defender Howey hailed the way Lewis had gone about his business.

“Rico obviously had a taste of it last season and probably thought to himself in his private moments ‘I want more of this,’ Howey declared.

“That performance today is proof to everyone that he could be an integral part of the new season.

“Rico showed such good strength in the first goal. He had the presence of mind to look up and find his teammate.”

Howey’s warm words for Lewis were echoed by fellow Matchday Live guests Paul Dickov and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

“I thought Rico Lewis was superb not just his assist for the goal but his constant energy taking the ball in tight areas, keeping possession and a few key blocks too,” former City and Scotland striker Dickov asserted.

“And considering that is one of the few times he has started in midfield he was outstanding.”

Wright-Phillips was out in Japan to witness Lewis’s impact first hand and he amplified the warm words of his former City teammates for the way he went about his business.

“I thought Rico was fantastic today especially later in the first half he seemed to get forward got in behind and cause them a lot of problems,” the former City and England winger pointed out.

“The way he takes his first touch to take him away from problems into the space to give the ball to the right people… I thought he was brilliant.”

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We face Atletico Madrid on 30 July, with fans all over the world (except South Korea) able to watch the action.

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