Kyle Walker has given England a major fitness boost - and hopes to play in England’s World Cup group matches.
Manchester City defender Walker, 32, trained with the rest of the 26 man squad but is still recovering after groin surgery last month. Walker has ruled himself out of the opener with Iran next Monday but there is a plan to give him minutes in the second game and he could even be ready to start the final group match with Wales.
Walker is a key part of Gareth Southgate’s squad and insists he never even feared he would miss the tournament. Walker told ITV : "It was touch and go at one stage but full credit to the physios to get me fit and healthy and I was confident after the surgery.
"It is down to the manager now. I think the first game is a little too short but after that I will be good and ready to go."
Walker is one of the most experienced players in Southgate's squad after earning 70 senior caps for his country. He's represented England at three other major tournaments and was named in the Team of the Tournament for Euro 2020 14 months ago.
Walker also has plenty of experience in the Premier League and Champions League, playing more than 500 club games since starting his career in 2008. The former Sheffield United ace has won 11 trophies at City - including four Premier League titles.
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It was touch and go whether Walker would be part of England's squad due to his injury. There were also fears his City team-mate Kalvin Phillips would miss the tournament due to a shoulder complaint, yet the midfielder was included in Southgate's party.
Southgate explained his decision to include Walker and Phillips when the squad was announced last Thursday. "No that's not the case," he said when asked if both players were out of the Iran game. "I mean Kalvin played last night, so I think with him he's free of injury.
"We are aware that he's not going to be able to play seven 90 minutes. That won't be possible, we'll have to build his fitness level.
"But he's available, he's free of injury and we don't really have - we have Declan Rice as a defensive midfielder, Hendo [Jordan Henderson] can play there but it's not his number one position - so we don't have a lot of cover for that role in the country and Kalvin is a super player.
"We feel that's a risk worth taking because generally his fitness is good and we think he can enter the group."
On Walker, Southgate added: "Kyle's a little bit different in that he's not back in full training yet, but he's going to be available before the end of the group stage."
