Lyttle, who coached Charles in Northern Ireland’s youth setup, never questioned his potential.
In a 2021 BBC Sport interview, he praised Charles’s composure, saying he’d barely needed to shift beyond “second gear” and still had plenty more to show. Lyttle highlighted his calmness on the ball, vision to pick passes and break lines, strong technique over both long and short distances, physical competitiveness, and character—calling him a modern, ball-playing centre-back with a great attitude. He added that as Charles climbs the levels he must keep developing, but he has all the tools.
Charles’s growth was aided by learning from elite players at Manchester City, where he trained alongside Rodri and Fernandinho. He earned his Premier League debut in May 2023—by then already capped six times internationally—coming on as a second-half substitute against Brentford after Pep Guardiola’s side had clinched the title.
Reflecting in 2022, Charles said first-team sessions were at an exceptionally high standard, offering daily learning. Working with players like Rodri and Fernandinho was demanding, he noted, but also enjoyable.