Southampton full back Kyle Walker Peters has received a deserved call up to the full England squad, testament to the progress that he has made at St Mary's in the two years since joing from Tottenham Hotspur.

Back in January 2020, few people had heard of Kyla Walker Peters, at 22 he had only played a dozen games in the Premier League for Spurs plus another 12 in cup competitions, his career in North London was going nowhere.

He arrived at St Mary's on loan an unknown quantity, yet it seemed that his Saints career might be over before it had got started, he would play just once before football shut down for the Coronavirus pandemic and it was not certain that he would return after the resumption in football 3 months later.

But he did return and although he did not play in the first game, he was soon in the side and impressed greatly so much so that Saints signed him on a permanent deal.

Last season he was a virtual ever present when fit and at the start of this season must have been looking forward to this being a big season in his career.

But initially it did not look like that, he found himself replaced by Tino Livramento at right back with new signing Romain Perraud in on the left, Saints supporters called for KWP to be used in tandem with Livramento on the right, but this would not be his route back into the First team, he would displace Perraud at left back and that is where most of his games have been played this season.

But his versatility has shone through and it has to be said that he is just as effective on the left as he is on the right, indeed some would say more so with his ability to surge forward and cut inside.

So being called up for the England squad is a just reward for a player who has got his head down and grafted for the right to play for Saints and now will do the same for England.

The real irony being is that the man who is ahead of him in his usual position at right back for Saints is now behind him in the International pecking order with Tino Livramento being in the the U23 side.

The only question is whether he has been called into the England squad as a right or left back ?

Photo: Action Images

cotswoldsaint added 23:59 - Mar 21 Pain of the Citeh defeat gone in a heartbeat. So, so deserved. Can now dream of KWP doing a one-two with JWP and firing in the winner for England at Wembley, and then running back to Southgate on the touchline for a celebratory selfie on Gareth's mobile :)
1

pwithers123 added 08:48 - Mar 22 An outstanding character - to keep pushing forward each time he had a barrier - and to keep positive and determined. Amazing guy. Very well deserved call up. Superb player. Let's hope he stays
1

SaintPaulVW added 09:47 - Mar 22 Well deserved based on his performances this year. Being able to play equally well on the right or left is exactly the flexibility that a tournament squad needs. However Southgate loves a CB so we will have to see how much game time Kyle actually gets.
1

SanMarco added 10:28 - Mar 22 Let's hope they are both still playing for us when it happens Cotswold. He must be just about the best English RB in the country right now. Well deserved, let's hope he doesn't get injured...
1

underweststand added 18:07 - Mar 22 ...And not before time. KWP has been sensational this season, and also proven he's just as good in either FB role........
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Portsmouth Polls