KYLE WALKER has tried to quit international football TWICE under Gareth Southgate.
The Manchester City defender wanted to retire after both Euro 2020 and Qatar 2022 but England boss Southgate persuaded the right-back to stay on both occasions.
After Walker, 33, scored his first goal in 77 internationals in the 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Saturday, Southgate revealed: “All credit to him and I’ve talked him out of retirement twice.
“Out of international football. After the Euros and after the World Cup.
“He loves being here and he’s wanted to keep going and now he’s thinking about how many caps he can get. He’s critical to us.
“If we’re talking about world class players in their position in our team then he’s probably one of them.”
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Asked to confirm Southgate’s revelations that he wanted to quit, Walker said: “Yes. In a moment, at the time, me and Gareth spoke.
“The likes of Trent [Alexander-Arnold], Tripps [Kieran Trippier] and Reece James were coming through. You think your days are numbered.
“And to sacrifice how many holidays and summers that I’ve sacrificed…
“I’ve been doing this since I was 19 when I joined the senior team. I’m 33 now.
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“Me and Gareth have a good relationship off the field, we do speak and I feel that I can still bring something to the team. So why stop?”
Walker delivered a strong performance in the qualifier in the Polish city of Wroclaw and is a certain starter for Southgate despite his many options at right-back.
The England team arrived in Glasgow late Saturday night for the friendly against Scotland.
Southgate is likely to make a number of changes and that could include giving a first cap to Chelsea defender Levi Colwill at some stage during the match at Hampden Park.
England’s previous trip to Glasgow was a 2-2 draw in a World Cup qualifier in 2017.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
