I was a striker, but defenders bashed me up...

Posted Sunday, April 15, 2012 by The Sun

I was a striker, but defenders bashed me up...
AIMING HIGH ... Spurs' Kyle Walker chases Cup glory today

KYLE WALKER is called the new Roberto Carlos in Spain — but Tottenham’s full-back would rather be known as the next Dani Alves.

Walker earned his accolade with a man-of-the-match performance for England against the world champions at Wembley last year.

The 21-year-old right-back has to pinch himself at being mentioned in the same sentence as Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos.

But it is another Brazilian full-back, Barcelona’s Alves, who is the man he would love to emulate.

And that’s all a world away from when he was a teenage striker in Sheffield United’s youth team — getting battered from pillar to post by giant centre-halves.

Walker, who lines up against Chelsea in today’s FA Cup semi-final, said: “I love to get forward and excite fans.

“Back in last summer, I came on as a sub against Spain and some of their writers said I was the new Roberto Carlos.

“It’s great to be put in the same sentence because of how he played. But I’m still learning. I have to keep my feet on the ground.

“I watch Dani Alves constantly on YouTube. He’s forever getting in the box and that’s what I want to bring into my game.

“I also watch Gary Neville, too. Gary didn’t have the best pace but never got beat. “If I can get my positioning right and get everything else right, hopefully I can become the complete right-back.”

Walker revealed his football dream was nearly shattered before it had even kicked off.

He said: “I’d started off as a striker because I was small. Centre-halves used to smash me up.

“Then a coach at Sheffield United switched me to right-back when I was around 16 and I’ve been there ever since.

“I was the last one to get a scholarship out of my year. I was getting worried but my mum and dad were probably panicking more than me.

“One day, two of the coaches Kevin Fogg and Ron Reid pulled me into the office and Kevin said it wasn’t his decision but the club were going to give me a chance.

“I can still remember it. I could see the weight lift off my dad’s shoulders. My dad just said you’re going to have to prove these people wrong.

“But those two were a big help in my career. I could have been stacking shelves in Tesco. I need to say a big thanks for putting their belief in me.”

While his parents have been a massive influence on his career, it was Walker’s grandad Jack who got him into football when he toyed with the idea of being a sprinter.

And the full-back has paid a lasting tribute with a tattoo that almost covers his right arm. He added: “Grandad Jack has passed away now but he was the one that got me into football. Without him I wouldn’t be here now.

“He took me to Bramall Lane at four years old, three years later I was playing for them.

“My family’s so down to earth. We’re just us. I don’t think I’ve changed. I still have my friends on the council estate I grew up on and still sit there chilling out with them.

“I was playing cards with them on the balcony last summer, off Eccleshall Road.”

Walker is still in his first full season as a Tottenham first-team player yet he could help change England’s fortunes at this summer’s European Championship finals.

But a ticket to the Ukraine and Poland this summer will still not convince Walker to lift his feet off the ground.

He said: “I’m still at the bottom. I’m in my first Premier League season.

“Hopefully it doesn’t stop here. I want to get more England caps, trophies, medals, everything... but I wouldn’t like football to change me.”