“Why not?” – Kyle Walker reveals playing 45 minutes against National League North side during international break | OneFootball

Manchester City captain Kyle Walker has revealed he played 45 minutes against National League North side Buxton FC during the recent international break.

The England international has had a relatively slow start to the new season with Manchester City, having been granted an extended summer break in light of his contributions to the England national team en route to a European Championship final against Spain.

Having missed pre-season in the United States with the Premier League champions, Walker reintegrated into the first-team set-up with Rico Lewis at the peak of his powers, with the teenager retaining the starting full-back berth for the opening four competitive games.

An international break then saw Kyle Walker snubbed by England interim head coach Lee Carsley as a result of a lack of match action for his club, and the veteran defender turned to hard work during that team to ensure that he could be selected upon City’s return.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester this week, Walker revealed that as he went in search of improved match fitness and sharpness, he took the opportunity to feature alongside some of the club’s under-21 players during the international break.

“I’m the captain of the team. If the captain goes to play with, as I know it, the reserves then everyone can do it,” Walker said. “If you need the minutes in the legs, and can pass on your experience to the youth, then why not?”

He continued, “Hopefully they benefited from me playing 45 minutes against Buxton (at the City Football Academy). No-one is bigger than a game. A game of football is putting minutes in your legs, getting your rhythm.

“If the club captain can do it then hopefully some of the lads in the first-team squad go and ask and can play as well.”

That strategy over the course of the first international break of the new season saw Kyle Walker return to his traditional right-back role against Brentford, as Manchester City came from behind to secure all three points in a 2-1 victory.

It remains to be seen how much consistent match action Kyle Walker will be granted by his manager this season, and particularly over the coming weeks as Manchester City take on two matches every seven days for the most part of the campaign.

However, it goes without saying that his presence in the first-team squad will no doubt be instrumental as Pep Guardiola will be forced into rotation with matches across all competitions coming thick and fast, and some tournaments having been expanded this year.