Was Tottenham youngster denied a World Cup spot by Serge Aurier signing for the club?
Harry Winks had injury to blame for missing out on the World Cup but Tottenham teammate Kyle Walker-Peters has even more reason to be frustrated.
Walker-Peters starred for England’s under-20s World Cup winning team last summer and has made solid progress this past season.
The frustration is that it could have been so much better.
Walker-Peters’ first game of the season for Tottenham was a man-of-the-match performance as Spurs kept a clean sheet in a win over Newcastle.
Filling in for England regular Kieran Trippier, Walker-Peters did everything which was asked of him.
Unfortunately manager Mauricio Pochettino did not show the same faith, and spent £24 million on Serge Aurier.
Aurier is yet to flourish at Spurs and has been mistake prone. Walker-Peters played on the last game of the season and provided two assists in a dramatic game against Leicester.
The way his performances book-ended Tottenham’s season left fans wondering what might have been, and Liverpool talent Trent Alexander-Arnold is a shining example.
The 19-year-old stepped in for injured Nathaniel Clyne, and took his World Cup spot.
Alexander-Arnold is now a regular for Liverpool and with the same faith this season, and Walker-Peters needed the same opportunity.
While Trippier was in his path, Tottenham rotated their full-backs, and Aurier made 24 appearances in all competitions, including six in the Champions League.
24 games for Walker-Peters might have been enough for him to challenge for a World Cup spot too, instead Aurier’s presence meant he was never even in the mix.
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