Kyle Walker Left Out by England Again

Gareth Southgate, England Manager, has today announced the National Team Squad and yet again there is no place for Kyle Walker.

Last month when Gareth Southgate left Manchester City’s Kyle Walker out of the England National side he offered some assurances. He made a number of gestures and intimated he was simply blooding young players and there would be a place for Walker again. The papers even went so far as to report Walker was still first choice right back for England.

Privately it seemed as though there was a different belief in the Walker camp. He seemed to genuinely fear his England career was over and he was simply being let down gently by a manager who did not appear to have the courage to tell him so.

So far this season Walker has found his place in the City team under some threat with the multi million pound acquisition of Joao Cancelo. Despite this though he has featured in every Premier League game so far – playing the full 90 minutes in 6 games and being withdrawn only when we were 6-0 up against Watford.

More from Man City Square

• Rodri believes City can have even more success this season
• Grealish, Stones, and Kovacic will NOT play tomorrow
• My Manchester City UCL Group Stage predictions
• After Injury Guardiola is back in Etihad
• Phil Foden Scores Opener for England Against Scotland

He has played in our first Champions League match, away at Shakhtar and featured in the Community Shield win over Liverpool.

His performances have varied so far this season with his highest rated performances on Who Scored coming in the games against West Ham United and Shakhtar where he achieved ratings of 7.71 and 7.58 respectively.

Being dropped by England will feel like a significant blow to Walker who has given so much for his country. Walker has so far amassed 48 full England caps since making his debut at age 21 on November 12 2011 under the then manager, Fabio Capello. His last games for England were in the Summer during the UEFA Nations League Finals.

At just 29 years of age and playing for the Champions, Walker will feel like he still has a lot to give. But he won’t be the first player to be discarded too soon by England. Even Kevin Keegan faced his International career being over at age 28!

The plus side of all of this is that Walker will have an opportunity to continue to train with Guardiola and to gain some all important rest during the International break. Let us hope he can use this time to become revitalised and lead City’s continued assault on all fronts. It si important for Walker to prove that England’s loss is our gain.