**Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly Earns Maiden England Call-Up**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 06, 2025, 05:31 PM*
Manchester City defender Nico O’Reilly has received his first-ever call-up to the England national team. His inclusion follows the withdrawal of Chelsea’s Reece James due to injury. James suffered the setback during Chelsea’s recent Premier League victory over Liverpool.
### Career Progression: Who Is Nico O’Reilly?
Nico O’Reilly, primarily a left-back for Manchester City, is set to replace Reece James in the England squad. The 20-year-old joined City’s academy at the age of eight and made his breakthrough into the first team last season.
So far this season, O’Reilly has made nine appearances across all competitions. In the previous campaign, he featured 21 times and was also included in Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup.
### Tactical Advantage and Reward for Strong Performances
O’Reilly’s call-up is a testament to his impressive performances for City. Pep Guardiola has transitioned him from a number 10 midfielder to a left-back, a position where he has started seven of City’s games this season.
England manager Thomas Tuchel values powerful runners, a quality O’Reilly possesses in abundance. Additionally, his versatility to operate in multiple positions could prove invaluable for England as they prepare their final squad for the upcoming World Cup.
### International Journey
O’Reilly has represented England at various youth levels, ranging from Under-15 to Under-20. Although he was recently called up to the Under-21 squad in September, an injury forced him to withdraw.
While O’Reilly sees himself primarily as a midfielder, his replacement role for Reece James indicates he will be deployed mainly as a full-back for England. With James sidelined, England’s options at right-back are limited, with Djed Spence currently the only natural player for the position.
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Stay tuned for more updates on England’s squad selections and preparations for the World Cup.
*Follow the conversation on Twitter: #NicoOReilly #EnglandFootball #ManCity*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/england-name-nico-o-reilly-as-replacement-for-james-reece/story