Manchester City and England star Kyle Walker has admitted he would much rather play his natural right-back role over the more central position he currently plays for England under Gareth Southgate.

Walker has been playing on the right-hand side of a back-three for England in the lead up to the World Cup, something that has worked on the whole and shows the defender’s versatility.

But the 28-year-old has played at right-back for his entire career, and admits he would have preferred Southgate to deploy him in his best role for the upcoming tournament.

“Is it my preferred position? Of course not. I want to play right-back,” said Walker on Southgate’s positional tactics.

“I have worked my whole life to get to where I am now in a World Cup squad — and to showcase my talent playing in my position.

“But I’m a team player. I’ll do anything for the team. If the gaffer thinks to help the team out he wants me playing there, I am all for it.

“I’ve been playing professionally since I was 18 as a right-back.

“To get to your first World Cup and probably not play in your preferred position is not disappointing — but it is a little step back.”

However, Walker has often impressed when playing in a three-man defence, and has hailed City boss Pep Guardiola for helping him to become comfortable in the position.

“It is comfortable because of the work I’ve done at City. Guardiola doesn’t really like to be overloaded in midfield. So if he sees that, I do tuck in and so we go as a back-three,” he said.
[Quotes sourced via The Sun]