In the first of our series of World Cup blogs, Adem Mustafa writes about England’s growing injury woes.
Kyle Walker Injured: Why England's Right-flank Might Prove Weak in Brazil
England Defender Kyle Walker joins Theo Walcott on the list of right-sided England players who have picked up injuries in the past few weeks. With one right-winger already out and a right-back potentially injured as well, things are certainly proving difficult for England at the moment – particularly down their weakened right-flank.
Should Tottenham’s Walker be prevented from travelling to Brazil in June with the rest of the team, a replacement could come in the form of Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson. However, should Johnson also suffer an injury, Roy Hodgson will no doubt have his work cut out.
Perhaps an out-of-form and out-of-position Chris Smalling could fill in, but that would surely be a last resort when England come up against some of the world's best.
Tim Sherwood’s view on Walker's Injury
When asked about the issue, Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood said: “The boy wants to soldier on and play through it, which is a credit to him, but it's a pelvic problem and it's something that might need attention. I've had it myself, it's nagging and it's always there in the back of your mind.”
The 23 year old right-back was substituted during Tottenham’s 3-1 loss to Benfica in the Europa League last week, and the initial reports from the Tottenham medical team indicate that the injury could potentially be a severe one.
At the moment the Tottenham boss is not sure if he will need surgery to fix the issue before it becomes worse. "I don't know if he will need an operation. Sherwood said. “The medical team are assessing him and making sure they can get him through this period.”
If surgery is required, then it will no doubt put an end to any World Cup hopes for Walker, and with replacements short, England will be walking a tight rope.
How will You be Watching the World Cup?
With only 85 days until the World Cup starts, it is vital that all of the drama of the competition is witnessed in the style that it deserves.
So, why not check out the latest LG 55LA690V 55'' 3D Cinema Full HD SMART LED TV with Magic Remote from ElectricShop? After being reduced from £1599.99 to only £989.00, you could be watching the World Cup in a stunning 3D format for a truly amazing price.