Chatting with Spurs’ Latest Call-up: Kyle Walker-Peters
Mauricio Pochettino’s faith in youth players has continued with another academy product called to Spurs’ bench as they beat Bournemouth this past Sunday.
Prior to kick-off against Bournemouth this past Sunday, Mauricio Pochettino selected the same starting eleven that he chose against Aston Villa. However one name that popped up was a surprise for those who were looking at the team sheets.
The player in question is none other than Kyle Walker-Peters, an 18-year-old right-back from the youth academy who was named to the 18-man matchday squad.
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Speaking to Spurs’ official website, Walker-Peters discussed what the last few days have been like for him leading up to Sunday’s match against the Cherries.
After captaining Tottenham’s Under-21 team two days before the senior team would meet Bournemouth, Kyle Walker-Peters and the second team would win 3-0 over Leicester City’s Under-21s at the King Power Stadium.
Following that, he would be named to Mauricio Pochettino’s bench and take part in his first Premier League as an unused substitute.
“I knew on Saturday that I would be coming to the game but I found out I was on the bench when I got to the ground,” said Walker-Peters (via Spurs’ official website).
Naturally, the youngster was both excited and nervous at the same time to be getting a call-up to the senior team at a time when Spurs are looking to grab as many points as possible to catch up with Leicester.
“My reaction was obviously excitement and I guess a bit of nerves too, but I was very pleased to be involved for the first time, Walker-Peters continued.
“The players were outstanding in the game – it was a great experience for me to see them from a different angle.”
“Obviously I was in the changing rooms and I saw what the character of the players is like on a matchday which can only benefit me going forward.”
The fact that he has been in the changing room this season, and most likely training with the first team throughout the year, shouldn’t be that surprising.
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In fact, during Spurs’ post-season tour in Malaysia and Sydney last summer, the 18-year-old played at left-back.
Therefore Kyle Walker-Peters has essentially been a member of the first team in a roundabout way. It’s really just a matter of time before he makes the leap from the Under-21s to the senior team.
But before that, the Under-21 Premier League season comes first as well as helping England’s Under-19s qualify for the European Championship finals in Germany this summer.
Ahead of them they will take on Georgia (March 24) and Greece (March 26) before finishing their qualifiers against Spain (March 29).
The right-back is of course confident of his team’s abilities to make it into the finals.
“I think we’ll do well,” declared Kyle Walker-Peters. “They’re going to be tough games because European opposition are always good but we’ve got a very strong team and I think we’ll get through it.”
“A lot of the players are playing first team football, a lot of them are out on loan so they have that senior experience and that should help us.”
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Kyle Walker-Peters has yet to go out on loan or play first team football with Spurs, but as mentioned above. The fact that he’s been in Tottenham’s changing rooms and most likely training with them this season can only benefit the young full-back.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Shayon Harrison and Harry Winks have been given the same treatment of training with the first team despite spending a majority of their time with the Under-21s. And in due time, all four will be future players for Spurs.