Kyle Walker has expressed confidence that he will recover from his groin injury in time for next month’s World Cup, despite fears that the defender would miss the tournament.
Walker, 32, was forced to undergo surgery on the injury he picked up in Manchester City’s 6-3 win over rivals Manchester United earlier this month.
The right-back went under the knife just a day after the derby win in the hope he can recover before England manager Gareth Southgate names his squad for the tournament in Qatar.
Asked for an update on his recovery, Walker told the BBC: “My first thought is to go back to England.
“I’m confident. I’ve been through enough in my career to know my body. I’m way beyond what they thought I could do at this point.
“I just feel I can do it. There’s going to be bumps in the road, but hopefully the pick comes, I’ll be included.”
Walker was an ever-present in Southgate’s England squad and played a key role in the teams that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the finals of Euro 2020.
Although a right-back, the former Tottenham player was often used on the right-hand side of England’s three-man central defence, where he used his electric pace to snuff out opposition counter-attacks.
