Walker on target for New Year return

Back in August I wrote that Kyle Walker would be out until most likely the end of December at the earliest and Mauricio Pochettino has now confirmed that he is still a long way from a first team return.

Walker on target for New Year return


Walker turned out for the Under 21's in their 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Lamex Stadium on Monday night, his first game for 9 months but he will not be rushed back. Tottenham are well versed in dealing with long term injuries, we seem to consistently have one or more.

Both Sandro and Kaboul have had long term injuries and neither have recovered their form consistently, Arsenal being the only game you could say Kaboul was back to his best. Sandro has been sold and is setting the world alight at QPR.

"We all went to Stevenage to watch game and he played 67 minutes. It was a very good first game after his injury, to feel he can play in competition, because it is different to training. 
"We are happy. Maybe it's not enough still not yet, but maybe in the next few weeks available for squad."

With recovery from long term injuries clubs have to be careful not to bring a player back too early as other injuries occur. When a player has a problem then it's natural to put weight elsewhere and the body gets used to working different joints, then when coming back from an injury and stepping up to playing the muscles and joints get put under increased pressure. As the body has been compensating the muscles often give way and a series of niggling muscle injuries occur while the body readjusts itself.

Many assume that because he is making his way back that Kyle Naughton will be sold in January but I doubt that will happen. DeAndre Yedlin is unproven at premier League level, Walker is likely to have muscle problems and Eric Dier is a centre-back who may well be needed there.

It would make more sense to keep Naughton until the end of the season and then review the situation. The last thing we want to happen is to be left without experienced cover in defence, we have had enough problems in that department over the last few years.