He plays a different role with the national team
Kyle Walker has admitted he is not fully comfortable playing as a right-sided centre-back for England. The Manchester City defender has played at right-back his entire career, occasionally at right wing-back, but never in a back three.
Southgate’s explanation for the decision to deploy Walker in this system was that he takes up similar positions playing for City under Pep Guardiola, would provide good passing from the back, and it also allows Kieran Trippier to play at right wing-back in the same team.
Walker, however, can’t understand why he is playing at right centre-back over natural central defenders, namely Joe Gomez.
“It’s something I have to deal with,” he told the Daily Mail. “Joe Gomez is probably a better centre half than me. It’s not my position is it?
“I have to pick it up really quickly when I go back to England because it’s not something I’m doing week in, week out. I have to put all the work I have done with Pep to the side and listen to something else.”
Gomez came in for Walker in the back three for England’s UEFA Nations League match against Spain, but Trippier still started at wing-back, keeping Walker on the substitutes bench.
“I am starting from scratch again and it’s a lot to take in for just three or four days. I have to re-adjust myself.I want to play right back for England. I think that’s my spot. I have played there for nine years.
“It was a bit awkward in Russia, I won’t lie. I am a right back playing right centre half when we have Gary Cahill and Phil Jones sitting on the bench.
“I felt bad for them, but it wasn’t my decision. I just had to play to the best of my ability wherever the manager picked me.”
If Tottenham’s poor form continues, and Gomez continues to impress in central defence for Liverpool, we could see Walker shifted out to right wing-back, with Trippier dropping to the bench, and Gomez cementing the RCB slot as his own.
