Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters has admitted that he has an eye on earning a call-up to the England senior squad, but should he be focusing on his club instead?
The on-loan right-back says that he is trying to develop his game and learn from the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker – who are current England internationals.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Walker-Peters said:
At Tottenham I had opportunities but I never really got a run and I think to establish yourself, to be considered for England, you need a run of games.
Of course you need to play well, but once you are playing you are looked at a bit more.
But yes competition for right-back is unbelievable. You’ve got Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker. Reece James is playing well at Chelsea.
I’m always trying to compare myself to those players because if I want to play I need to be just as good or better than them.
It won’t be easy but it’s something I’ve definitely got my eye on.
Walker-Peters has played just one game for Southampton since joining the club on loan from Tottenham in January and missed last week’s win over Villa with a calf injury.
In his one Premier League appearances for Southampton so far, Walker-Peters produced an underwhelming display – recording a WhoScored rating of 6.48.
It was his first game back in months after being frozen out under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham, though, so it could be excused. He is still adapting to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s style of play and being at a new club, having been with Tottenham throughout his entire, albeit brief, senior career to date. This means that he could need to get settled on the south coast before being able to show exactly what he can do.
So, instead of focussing on an international call-up to the England squad, Walker-Peters needs to make sure that he is playing consistently and well for Southampton.
If he can become a regular for Southampton and produce excellent performances each week at right-back, he could have a chance of catching Gareth Southgate’s eye further down the line. But, he needs to make sure he nails down the Southampton part before thinking about anything else.
