Myles Lewis-Skelly takes our camp life quiz
The England and Arsenal star discusses life on camp with the Three Lions
MATCH CENTRE: LATVIA V ENGLAND
Since receiving his first senior call-up earlier in March this year, Myles Lewis-Skelly has burst onto the scene with England.
Ahead of the Three Lions’ latest World Cup Qualifier, the defender answers a series of questions about life on camp.
What is one essential item you’re packing in your suitcase for a camp?
I’ll give you three: a cleanser, my moisturiser and my sunblock! It’s a must, I think. Look good, feel good, play good. It’s essential.
What about one luxury item?
I’m not really a luxury type of guy. Maybe some perfume, just to make sure you smell good. I’ll maybe put it on after a game when I go and see my family.
How do you like to spend your down-time on camp?
I like to journal. I like writing my thoughts, just getting down maybe what I’ve thought about the day and stuff like that. That’s the way that I spend my downtime.
I’m really big on just writing and I feel like it helps calm me down and centre myself. You have a lot of thoughts per day and it’s good to capture those thoughts.
I’m really big on my mindset, so am I thinking positively, am I thinking good thoughts? When you think good and you’re positive, that’s when good things start to happen.

Who would you sit next to on a plane or bus journey to an England game?
It depends on my mood. If I want to sleep, I’ll be next to Hendo [Jordan Henderson]! I’d say Bukayo [Saka]. He’s my guy. We’re chilled and laugh a bit.
It depends if I want to play UNO, maybe I’d sit next to those guys but if not, I’ll stay far from them – it’s a bit too crazy sometimes and I’ve got to take a seat back.
What kind of character or personality would you say you are within the group and how would your team-mates describe you?
I think they’d say that I’m quite confident and funny but when it’s time to switch, I have that switch. Obviously, I can have a laugh with the boys but when it’s time to work, I know when to switch it on. I think they respect that about me and I’m quite professional as well.

What is your favourite meal to eat on camp?
I love the avocado they serve. That’s one thing that I make sure I’ve got when I’m at lunch and dinner.
What is your favourite part of training?
It’s just when we’re competing against each other. That’s something that I’m really big on is being competitive and going against who you’re directly up against. Just the direct competition that you’re exposed to here. Everyone’s at a high level.
Talk us through your pre-match routine.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Just be present and make sure I’m taking in everything around me.
What kind of music do you listen to before a game?
I wouldn’t really listen to music before a game. I just like to be in my thoughts before the game and let my mind wander and just do a little bit of breath work. After the game if we win, I’m happy so I’d listen to anything.

Talk us through your post-match routine.
Refuel and get food back in my system.
What is your favourite thing about being on camp?
It’s just the knowledge from all the boys and all the experience that they have. I’m someone that always wants to learn and improve.
I feel like it’s very beneficial for me just to have these people around me that give me experience, give me knowledge and give me a lot of wisdom.
I’ve learnt that every day matters. The way they approach training, even when we have a couple of days and we don’t have that many training sessions with the boys, it’s just that importance of every day matters and every detail is important.
How would you sum up pulling on an England shirt and representing your country?
It's just a lot of honour. It’s a big thing – you can’t play this down. You’re putting on a shirt for your country, so it’s something you should wear with pride and wear with honour which I think I do every time I wear the shirt.
It’s a feeling that you can only have if you’ve done it, so it’s really special.

What is your favourite moment during your England career?
That first time I walked out at Wembley to a full crowd and scoring. It’s something that I dreamt of and I’m really big on if you can hold it in your mind, you can have it, so that’s one thing that I did before the game and it happened. I was so grateful that it happened in the way it did.
All I remember is that it was nearly offside, so I looked at the linesman straight away and he didn’t put his flag up. I was kind of playing eye tag with him to see if he was going to put it up or not and he didn’t and I was like, ‘oh, my days’. The relief was crazy.
With England continuing their World Cup qualifying campaign this month, what is your favourite memory of watching the Three Lions in the World Cup?
Trippier in 2018 with his free-kick against Croatia. That was crazy watching it live – what it did, how the players celebrated it, now knowing how big that moment is and what it meant to the country at the time. It was really good to see. I was on my sofa with some popcorn!
What is one piece of advice your younger self would’ve given you now you’re in this position, playing for England?
Just enjoy it because it does go quick. Enjoy the moment – don’t wish it past – be present, be here now. That’s one thing I’d say.