Walker, who is set to sign a new contract at City, enjoyed a brilliant international break with the Three Lions. After scoring England&aposs equaliser against Ukraine in a key European Championship qualifier, the full-back played his part in a solid defensive performance as Gareth Southgate&aposs men beat Scotland at Hampden Park in a friendly on Tuesday night.
His performances for the national team led to a conversation on The Rest is Football podcast on whether he is now the greatest ever England right-back. Richards was full of praise for how far the City man has come.
He said: “He [Walker] is the most improved player I think I have ever seen. Lets go right back to Sheffield United, I watched him in a game and he was electric, just pace.
“Now he has not got any slower but his final third, in terms of his delivery, needed a lot of work. He wasnt always out of position but he was using his pace to get out of it..
“Now he can go into a three at the back and he can still go high and wide as a full-back and I just think he is complete as a full-back, he is the greatest ever English right-back. I now think he has surpassed Gary Neville. He has won the trophies, won the Treble.
“The only reason I would pick Kyle Walker is because I think Kyle Walker could play in any era. I think Gary Neville would struggle to play in this era right now. Back then, he [Neville] was outstanding.”
Fellow contributors Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer both agreed with Richards&apos thoughts with the former concluding: “I think Kyle Walker has a bit more to his game. I have massive respect for Gary Neville as a player and a person but I think he has got a bit more. His pace alone… he is probably the one player in the world who can cope with Kylian Mbappe and he has.”
The Puma home shirt features the traditional sky blue colour but has slightly darker blue detailed stripes across the front which take inspiration from the Etihad Stadium&aposs walkways. City moved to their new home from Maine Road in 2003 and the shirt honours that anniversary.
