Kyle Walker suffered a groin injury in the Manchester derby earlier this month (Picture: Getty Images)
Kyle Walker is confident of being fit for the World Cup, although it is a race against time for the England right-back after groin surgery.
The Manchester City star picked up the injury in the Manchester derby at the start of October and his chances of making the squad for Qatar were immediately put in doubt.
However, he insisted on surgery as quickly as possible to give himself the best chance of making Gareth Southgate’s final squad and he is in contention to do just that, although it is going to be close.
‘My first thought now is getting back for England,’ Walker said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Friday Football Social. ‘I’m confident. I’ve been through enough in my career to know my body.
‘I’m well above what they thought I’d be able to do at this point. I just feel I can do this. I am going to have to be patient with it. There will be bumps in the road but hopefully, come the selection, I’m included.’
Walker was injured in City’s 6-3 win over United on Sunday 2 October and, with surgery inevitable, he put pressure on the surgeon to do it at the soonest possible opportunity.
‘It was a little bit manic,’ said Walker. ‘I went down on the Monday and I said to the surgeon: ‘Listen mate, you’re going to have to do it, I have a World Cup’.
‘He wanted to do it on the Thursday but he said I’ll meet you there in an hour. He jumped on the tube, I got in the car and that was it, I was under the knife having surgery.’
There is a lot of competition at right-back, and to take the right-hand side of three centre-backs, but England are struggling with injuries as Reece James has picked up a knee problem that has also put his World Cup in doubt.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is also out at the moment, although Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has suggested he will be back comfortably in time to make it to Qatar, if he is called upon.
MORE : Chelsea boss Graham Potter issues Reece James injury update amid surgery fears
MORE : Sacked Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel fancies replacing Gareth Southgate as England boss
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The full-back has undergone groin surgery.