Age no barrier for Walker.. Pep’s new Mr Reliable

KYLE WALKER is that footballing rarity – a player who appears to be getting quicker with age, someone whose turn of pace has got sharper since turning 30.

His blistering early sprint against Olympiakos was trademark stuff, unlike his clever reverse pass to Ferran Torres.

Walker (celebrating with Torres, above) is not only gaining miles an hour with growing maturity, he is becoming a more intelligent footballer. The right-back’s renewed importance to club and country has gone under the radar this season.

When he reached his fourth decade in May, it was with some turbulence. There had been a lurid breach of Covid rules and his international future was said to be in jeopardy. Don’t forget, he had already been dropped once by Gareth Southgate in August 2019.

And Manchester City were believed to be none too impressed with their player.

Fast forward less than six months and Walker has never seemed more valuable to City and remains in the England fold.

Walker has started all 11 of City’s games this season and played the full 90 minutes in both of England’s Nations League matches last month.

And it is not only his trademark speed and strength that have caught the eye.

His distribution looks more certain and more inventive, his defending just a little more composed. Walker’s style means there are bound to be moments of rashness, but he has only had one yellow card for City this season.

He was not tested severely by a limited Olympiakos, giving him familiar licence to get forward. And his surges usually ended with a decent ball, such as the one Riyad Mahrez mis-controlled in the second half.

The nature of Walker’s game meant he led the recovery mission and that is probably another reason why Pep Guardiola has so much faith in him. That is why Kyle Walker has become Pep’s Mr Reliable.