Wales face more woe over Walker

WALES are concerned over the immediate future of the wing they have been trying to pick for the last five years – Eli Walker.

The unlucky Osprey will miss the start of the season amid persisting uncertainty over when he will be fit following back surgery more than six months ago.

Despite having been out of action since last November, Walker still has no idea when he will be able to play again.

“It’s a long, really slow process,’’ head coach Steve Tandy told The Rugby

Paper after finalising preparations for today’s friendly against Bath at the Liberty Stadium.

“We are doing every guilty thing possible but Eli is way off being ready. We are really hopeful but we don’t know when that will be.

“Eli is a finely-tuned athlete. He has top-end pace and we’ve missed him. It’s very unfortunate.”

Wales would have welcomed back a top-form Walker with open arms for the autumn. The prognosis comes hot on the heels of a Lions series which has underlined an acute shortage of Test wings.

Liam Williams’ impact as a full-back and George North’s fall from grace points to both wing positions being up for grabs.

The Wales management, roundly criticised by fans for their repeated refusal to inject the new blood of Steff Evans and Keelan Giles into an under-performing team last season, are entitled to enter a not- plea in respect of Walker.

They first picked him five seasons ago at the tender age of 20 for the 2013 Six Nations.

On that occasion and almost every subsequent one, the Swansea flier has been grounded in a literally hamstrung condition. Having recovered from back surgery in early 2013 he had been picked against South Africa later that year only to suffer more of the same trouble 48 hours before kick-off.

His one appearance, against Ireland two years ago, proved good enough to earn him a late call into the World Cup squad as a replacement for the crocked Leigh Halfpenny. No sooner had Walker reported for duty than his hamstring went again in training.