How Rico Lewis became Man City's latest undroppable - and the telling Kyle Walker reaction

Is the changing of the guard happening before our eyes? Or will the master reclaim his place from the apprentice who keeps knocking on the door?

Kyle Walker has vowed to reclaim his place for Manchester City and England having accepted the decision to axe him from the first England squad of the season was the right one. While Rico Lewis says he used England's run to the Euro 2024 final to get a headstart on Walker for this season. The battle has begun for club and country and it's going to be a competitive one if the first month of the season is anything to go by.

Walker was given extra time off after the Euros, returning the week before the season began, by which time Lewis had started all four pre-season friendlies in the USA and the Community Shield win over Manchester United. Lewis was performing to such a high standard, inverting into midfield and even attack, that he has started each of City's three Premier League games so far.

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His form has prompted Pep Guardiola to call him one of the best players he has ever trained: "Rico has one incredible ability that for many years was difficult to find: always he is free. He is always alone. Whenever his mate has the ball, I don't know what he does but he is free. You can pass the ball to him and not just in a comfortable position but where the spaces are so tight.

"He arrives in the final third, he is a good defender, he gives continuity, he can play in two or three positions. He's playing well so he deserves to play."

On the back of his form Lewis has earned a deserved call-up to the England