Ex-Tottenham Hotspur defender Alan Hutton has been raving over young defender Kyle Walker-Peters, saying the full-back can become a ‘great player’.
The 22-year-old right-back has started the season well for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, starting the first three Premier League games of the season (via Transfermarkt).
However, a thigh injury cut short his stint on the right side of the defence and he missed the games against Arsenal and Crystal Palace.
In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, Hutton was full of praise for the youth product as he lauded him for his lack of fear.
He said: “For one so young, it’s difficult to play in the Premier League at any age, but to come through the ranks is impressive and he seems that type who has no fear.”
“He’ll only learn off someone like Pochettino. If you really want to become a great player, from what I’ve seen he can be, these are the types of boys (the Tottenham stars) you really need to be learning from.” (Source: Football Insider)
The Scotland international’s praise of Walker-Peters is completely founded, and he is right about how far he can go in his career.
Walker-Peters has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season as he’s shown his defensive nous. The 22-year-old has won the most tackles per game (2.7), as well as winning the most offsides per game (1.7) of any player in the Spurs squad (via WhoScored).
The Englishman also has a cool head between his shoulders, making a mere 0.3 fouls per game in the Premier League, the least among Spurs defenders to have started a top-flight game.
Walker-Peters has really shown how smart he can be in defence, and if he continues in the same vein he could well turn out to be the ‘great player’ Hutton says he can be.
Tottenham fans – how highly do you rate Walker-Peters? Do you see him becoming a regular at right-back? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
