Paul Merson has praised Kyle Walker-Peters for the way he has bounced back since being let go by Tottenham, insisting that the 24-year-old was fully deserving of his England cap.
Walker-Peters had shown glimpses of quality when he got a few opportunities under Mauricio Pochettino but the Spurs academy graduate was surplus to requirements under Jose Mourinho.
Following a successful loan spell at St Mary’s during the second half of the 2019/20 campaign, the right-back sealed a permanent move to the South Coast the subsequent summer.
Walker-Peters has come on leaps and bounds as a player during the last year and a half with the Saints and the former Tottenham man was rewarded with his first England cap against Switzerland during the international break.
Merson admitted he has been impressed with the right-back’s progress and questioned Spurs’ wisdom in letting the 24-year-old leave and replacing him with Emerson Royal.
The former Arsenal midfielder told Sky Sports (02/04/22) about Walker-Peters: “Fair play to the lad as well. That’s the most important thing. The lad has been let go by Tottenham really. Then, he goes there and, for me, he has been absolutely outstanding.
“He thoroughly deserves his debut for England. A good player. He’s learnt a good way to play. I mean, it’s a top club Tottenham, so he is going to learn how to defend very well there and he has done great.
“They do find their players Southampton. Even though they have a great academy, but over the years, they do find a gem. Look at the lad who is playing in his position now, Royal, how much did they buy him for?”
Spurs Web Opinion
We have made some big blunders both in terms of incomings and outgoings over the past three years, partly because we have chopped and changed our managers.
Now that we have Paratici at the helm overseeing the transfer decisions, one would hope that there is some continuity in terms of the strategy, even if the head coach changes.
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