Stuart Pearce has given Kyle Walker a piece of advice ahead of England’s upcoming Round of 16 clash against Slovakia at Euro 2024.
Robbie Fowler feels that while the 34-year-old is a superior defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold should take his place in the side due to him being a better passer and all-round creator.
The £175,000-a-week man has arguably been England’s best player at the ongoing European Championship, alongside the likes of Marc Guehi and John Stones. However, Walker will be aware that for the Three Lions to qualify for the next round, him and his teammates will have to raise their level.
Stuart Pearce makes key observation about Kyle Walker
The tournament has a plethora of top teams who are all willing to spring a surprise on the day.
The expectation seems to be that Gareth Southgate’s side will grow into the competition game-by-game and find their groove in the knockout games — starting from their contest against Slovakia on Sunday.
The Slovakians famously beat Belgium in their opener in Group E and put in a statement display that was a warning sign for the best teams that have touched base in Germany.
During England’s 0-0 draw against Slovenia, Stuart Pearce felt Walker was not making either underlapping or overlapping runs after giving Bukayo Saka the ball on the right flank.
On FIVE’s official channel, the pundit said: “What I would like to see as well, what frustrated me in the last game, Kyle Walker picked the ball up, shoved it into [Bukayo] Saka’s feet and stayed behind him.”
“I would like to say to Kyle Walker, ‘Hey, if you’re going to shove the ball at his feet and you’re two v two, you tell me that there’s a better pairing than you two.’ A quicker pair, you name it.”
Pearce concluded: “If I’m Kyle Walker, shove the ball at Saka and go, I’d underlap or overlap, I don’t care what you do but go and help the kid out, your movement will help get Saka turned and go and take someone on.”
Depends on whether Gareth Southgate has allowed Kyle Walker to do that
Considering the veteran was willing to make such driving off-the-ball runs when deployed as an attacking right-back at times for Manchester City last season, the question is whether Gareth Southgate has allowed him to do the same in an England shirt.
It would not be beyond the realms of possibility if Southgate tasked the six-time Premier League winner to strictly operate as a defensive full-back and help the Three Lions backline stop counter-attacks.
However, Stuart Pearce does offer a valuable piece of advice to Walker, who could help his England side from an attacking standpoint as the starting side currently lack a runner — making their approach play going forward quite static and predictable.
Perhaps the former Tottenham Hotspur defender is instructed to make such runs to make life easier for Bukayo Saka against Slovakia.
