**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 comes following the injury withdrawal of Chelsea’s Reece James, who sustained an injury during Chelsea’s Premier League victory over Liverpool on Saturday.
### Career Progression: Who is Nico O’Reilly?
Primarily a left-back for Manchester City, O’Reilly will step in to replace James in the England squad. The 20-year-old has been with Manchester City since the age of eight and made his breakthrough into the first team last season. So far this season, he has appeared nine times across all competitions. Last season, he made 21 appearances and was included in Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup.
### Tactical Advantage: A Reward for Strong Performances
O’Reilly’s call-up is a reflection of his impressive form at City. Under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, he has been transitioned from a number 10 midfielder to a left-back and has started seven of City’s games this season. England manager Thomas Tuchel values players with strong running ability, a trait O’Reilly clearly possesses.
His versatility to perform in multiple positions could be a crucial asset for Tuchel as he finalizes his squad for the World Cup.
### International Journey
Nico O’Reilly has represented England at various youth levels, from Under-15s through to Under-20s. He was recently called up to the Under-21 squad in September but had to withdraw due to injury. Although O’Reilly views himself primarily as a midfielder, his current role replacing Reece James indicates he is now likely to be utilized as a defender at the international level.
James’s injury does leave England with limited options at right-back, with Djed Spence currently the only other natural choice in that position.
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Stay tuned for more updates on Nico O’Reilly and England’s squad selections ahead of the World Cup.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/england-name-nico-o-reilly-as-replacement-for-james-reece/story