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 “sit back”.
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 an enormous participant – no-one in that dressing room goes to have gained what he’s gained. I’m positive he’s not going there to be comfy and sit back.”
Kyle Walker wished to ‘get out of Man Metropolis’
Having joined Metropolis from Tottenham for an preliminary £45m in 2017, Walker additionally gained the FA Cup twice, the EFL Cup thrice and the 2022/23 Champions League as Pep Guardiola made the Cityzens the dominant drive in English soccer.
A run of 4 video games with no begin preceded the Sheffield United youth product being overlooked completely 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 learn 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 through William Hill Vegas.
“Apart from match time and health, it was most likely extra simply to get out of Metropolis. For me, it’s virtually like, ‘I’ll simply depart now and get out of the way in which and we’ll make a closing choice in the summertime.’ Milan’s an enormous membership and a pleasant place to dwell.”
Kyle Walker: Burnley veteran targets World Cup
Walker’s hopes of becoming a member of England on the 2026 Fifa World Cup will depend upon impressing for promoted Burnley, who suffered relegation in 2023/24 and are second-favourites to go down subsequent season.
The Clarets shipped a median of greater than two targets a sport of their final top-flight marketing campaign however had a outstanding defensive file below Scott Parker within the 2024/25 Championship, with the 16 targets they conceded in 46 matches totalling 14 fewer than another staff in all 4 divisions.
“I don’t assume it’s obtained something to do with him enjoying for Burnley,” Johnson says of Walker’s England prospects. “He simply must get to his requirements.
“He’ll undoubtedly 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 virtually 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 obtained 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 just a few right-backs so he must wish to kick on, as a result of he’s nonetheless obtained means, he’s nonetheless match and he’s obtained an engine.
“He’s skilled so I’m positive if he can get momentum, he’ll play many video games and England will probably be taking a look at him once more.”
Kyle Walker England stats
Ex-youth worldwide Walker has gained 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 aid,” he said afterwards. “To signify your nation and be as lucky as I’ve to have executed that many instances, 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 high velocity of 34.8 km/h to place him forward of fellow defenders Luke Shaw and Ezri Konsa.
He was Twentieth-fastest general 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 will probably 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 in opposition to the Europa League holders is not going to be broadcast dwell 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 will probably be no fixture on December 24.
England World Cup qualifying fixtures, outcomes
Walker will hope to be a caps centurion by the tip of England’s qualification schedule for the World Cup, which will probably be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico and begin on June 11, 2026.
Listed here are England’s Group Okay fixtures, which begin at 19:45 UK time except in any other case acknowledged.
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)
