In an interview with Tottenham Hotspur’s official channels, Kyle Walker-Peters claimed: “I’ve got to the stage where I’ve stopped looking at myself as a young player”.
While he is still relatively young at 22-years-old, this change of attitude is highly encouraging and is a vital stage in his progression as a Spurs player.
When a youngster is able to make 10 appearances in a season, as Walker-Peters did in the 2018/19 campaign, it is an impact that can find itself being applauded.
However, that isn’t a suitable return for somebody who is seen as an established professional, with the right-back indicating he is aiming for that type of status, rather than the one he has held until now.
With Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier both on The Daily Mail’s list of players who could be sold this summer, Walker-Peters has the best possible opportunity he could hope for to establish himself in the side.
A youngster may be willing to sit back and see somebody else fulfil that position – with Juan Foyth another potential right back – but he should be looking to make it his own, with the indications showing that is his intention.
Mauricio Pochettino has a brilliant track record of bringing Spurs’ youngsters through into the first team, so he will be pleased to see the 22-year-old’s mentality and there will be many supporters who feel the Argentinian can get the best out of the right back.
Walker-Peters showed a glimpse of what he is capable of when he got a hat trick of assists against AFC Bournemouth, the hope is that he can use that attitude change to start on a regular basis and produce some more performances like that one.