Kyle Walker and Manchester Metropolis “clearly weren’t pleased” with one another when the right-back ended his glittering profession with the membership, says Glen Johnson – and the previous England worldwide believes the 35-year-old hasn’t joined Burnley to “relax”.
Six-time Premier League winner Walker requested a switch in January, spending the second half of final season on mortgage at Milan earlier than springing one other shock by becoming a member of Burnley on a two-year deal in July for a price of as much as £5 million.
“It’s not going to be as straightforward for him at Burnley because it was at Man Metropolis,” factors out Johnson. “He’s going to be examined completely otherwise.
“He’s going to go in there as a giant participant – no-one in that dressing room goes to have received what he’s received. I’m certain he’s not going there to be snug and relax.”
Kyle Walker wished to ‘get out of Man Metropolis’
Having joined Metropolis from Tottenham for an preliminary £45m in 2017, Walker additionally received the FA Cup twice, the EFL Cup thrice and the 2022/23 Champions League as Pep Guardiola made the Cityzens the dominant pressure in English soccer.
A run of 4 video games and not using a begin preceded the Sheffield United youth product being overlooked fully for an FA Cup third spherical tie on January 8, when Guardiola defined Walker had “requested to discover the choices to play overseas”.
Walker made his swap to Serie A two weeks later, leading to seven begins in 18 video games as a part of a transfer hindered by accidents and sickness.
“No matter was happening behind the scenes that we didn’t find out about, he and the membership clearly weren’t proud of the state of affairs, as a result of in any other case you wouldn’t exit on mortgage,” says Johnson, talking by way of William Hill Vegas.
“Apart from match time and health, it was in all probability extra simply to get out of Metropolis. For me, it’s nearly like, ‘I’ll simply go away now and get out of the way in which and we’ll make a closing determination in the summertime.’ Milan’s a giant membership and a pleasant place to stay.”
Kyle Walker: Burnley veteran targets World Cup
Walker’s hopes of becoming a member of England on the 2026 Fifa World Cup will rely upon impressing for promoted Burnley, who suffered relegation in 2023/24 and are second-favourites to go down subsequent season.
The Clarets shipped a mean of greater than two objectives a sport of their final top-flight marketing campaign however had a exceptional defensive report below Scott Parker within the 2024/25 Championship, with the 16 objectives they conceded in 46 matches totalling 14 fewer than another workforce in all 4 divisions.
“I don’t suppose it’s acquired something to do with him enjoying for Burnley,” Johnson says of Walker’s England prospects. “He simply must get to his requirements.
“He’ll positively be wanting to make use of his expertise [in the dressing room], but it surely’s all about what [else] he desires to do.
“On the identical time, its about how a lot he desires to get within the England squad, how match he desires to be and the way onerous he desires to work.”
Kyle Walker: Johnson backs England common
A senior debutant in 2011, Walker has featured in nearly each Three Lions squad since November 2015 and been a starter at their final 5 main tournaments, enjoying each minute en path to the ultimate of Euro 2024.
He was overlooked of caretaker supervisor Lee Carsley’s squad final September however restored by Thomas Tuchel, making two begins and one substitute look in 4 video games below the brand new boss.
“So long as he’s match and enjoying, he’s acquired an opportunity,” feels Johnson, whose achivements throughout his distinctive 16-year senior profession included an FA Cup win with Portsmouth in 2008, lifting the EFL Cup with Liverpool in 2012 and going to 2 editions of the World Cup and Euro 2012 on the way in which to profitable 54 caps.
“England have fairly a number of right-backs so he must need to kick on, as a result of he’s nonetheless acquired skill, he’s nonetheless match and he’s acquired an engine.
“He’s a great skilled so I’m certain if he can get momentum, he’ll play many video games and England can be him once more.”
Kyle Walker England stats
Ex-youth worldwide Walker has received 96 caps, scoring his solely objective in a 1-1 draw away to Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying in September 2023.
“It’s only a reduction,” he said afterwards. “To symbolize your nation and be as lucky as I’ve to have executed that many occasions, to not have scored has been on my thoughts. Now I can tick that off.”
Recognized for his tempo, Walker was comfortably England’s quickest participant at Euro 2024, clocking a prime pace of 34.8 km/h to place him forward of fellow defenders Luke Shaw and Ezri Konsa.
He was Twentieth-fastest total at these finals and the eighth-quickest defender, though speediest participant Kylian Mbappe left Walker wanting comparatively ponderous by hitting 36.5 km/h.
When does Burnley’s 2025/26 Premier League season begin?
The primary spherical of Premier League matches in 2025/26 can be on the weekend of August 16 2025, together with Burnley’s journey to Tottenham on Saturday, August 16 at 15:00 BST.
The sport towards the Europa League holders won’t be broadcast stay within the UK.
The final spherical of matches this season will all begin on the identical time on Could 24 2026. No rounds will happen inside 60 hours of one another and there can be no fixture on December 24.
England World Cup qualifying fixtures, outcomes
Walker will hope to be a caps centurion by the top of England’s qualification schedule for the World Cup, which can be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico and begin on June 11, 2026.
Listed here are England’s Group Ok fixtures, which begin at 19:45 UK time except in any other case said.
Friday, March 21: England 2-0 Albania
Monday, March 24: England 3-0 Latvia
Saturday, June 7: Andorra 0-1 England
Saturday, September 6: England vs Andorra (17:00)
Tuesday, September 9: Serbia vs England
Tuesday, October 14: Latvia vs England
Thursday, November 13: England vs Serbia
Sunday, November 16: Albania vs England (17:00)
