Kyle Walker to miss Euro 2012 but will be fit for Olympics
Tottenham defender Kyle Walker is hoping to be fit in time to represent Team GB at the London Olympics this summer, despite the right-back missing out on Euro 2012 through injury.
The right-back’s Euro 2012 hopes were dashed by a toe injury which could prevent the England international from playing for a further four weeks.
Walker is hoping he can make up for missing England’s trip to Poland and Ukraine by representing Team GB in London come August.
He told the Daily Star: “Of course I am disappointed not to be going to the European Championships,” Walker stated.
“I am in contention to be in the [Olympic] squad and would love to represent my country. I was told my recovery would take four weeks and hopefully I will be back running soon.”
To add to his injury woes, Walker’s hopes of playing Champions League football next season were dashed when Chelsea lifted the Champions League, relegating Tottenham to the Europa League despite finishing 4th.
Walker continued: “The fans are always going to feel down, we do as well,”
Walker signed for Tottenham from Sheffield United in 2009, and after enjoying a number of loan spells QPR, Aston Villa and his former club Sheffield United, he has begun to maintain a solid place in the Spurs first-team.
The 21-year-old defender has made 39 first-team appearances for Tottenham, scoring in two of them.
Walker has made two appearances for the England national team, graduating from the seven appearances he made for England’s U21 squad as well as the same number of the U19s.
On 22 April 2012, Walker was named as the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year, he successfully beat the likes of Sergio Aguero, Danny Welbeck, Danny Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gareth Bale to the prestigious award, as well as being named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Walker signed a new contract with Spurs on the 3rd of May 2012, the five-year deal will see him at White Hart Lane until 2017.
