Shea Charles: How Fulham signing became NI’s most expensive footballer

For Lyttle, having worked with Charles at age-group level with Northern Ireland, there was never any doubting his potential.

“Honestly, he is so calm, I actually haven’t seen him get out of second gear yet and that is no joke – there is even more in him,” Lyttle added in his 2021 interview with BBC Sport.

“He plays with such a calmness, sees a pass, breaks lines, is technically very good, can hit long and short and can compete physically. He is just a proper ball-playing centre-back and a real good kid as well.

“As he goes up the levels he needs to keep progressing, but from what I’ve seen of young Shea he definitely has all the attributes.”

It helped that Charles was learning from some of the best in the world. At Manchester City he had been training with the likes of Rodri and Fernandinho and was finally handed a Premier League chance in May 2023, by which stage he had six international caps under his belt.

Pep Guardiola’s side had already wrapped up the Premier League title, and Charles made his City debut as a second-half substitute against Brentford on the final day of the season.

“When we train with the first team the standard is so high and we are always learning, every day,” Charles said in 2022.

“With the likes of Rodri and Fernandinho, it is tough but enjoyable.”