Walker has his sights set on claiming 'the biggest prize of all'

Kyle Walker is desperate to help this talented England side win the "biggest prize of all" after returning from injury just in time to go to the World Cup.

A regular starter in the last three major tournaments, it looked like the 32-year-old could be watching the tournament in Qatar from afar due to a persistent a groin complaint.

Sustained in early September when Manchester City played Aston Villa, Walker aggravated it on England duty against Germany and the derby clash with Manchester United on October 3 proved the "final straw".

"It was a rupture on my groin," the 70-cap full-back said. "I got four hooks on my groin, and I did three repairs, but it's going fantastically well. I™m really happy with it.

"Everyone seems to be happy with it, we kept in close contract with the surgeon, with the medics at City and also with here.

"I just have to say a big thank you to everyone for giving me this opportunity to actually be here."

Rehabilitation has been bit of unknown given Walker has largely avoided injuries during a career that has been underpinned by a philosophy of 'I'll never be beaten'.

"That's just been my life," he said. "Everyone in some way, shape or form, writes me off or says certain things.

"When I signed for Man City, 'I can't believe they paid that much for a full-back', X, Y and Z. It gives me that motivation to actually go and prove people wrong.

"Again, I have to think first and foremost of myself and make sure that my body is fine and can cope with that and secondly it is proving people wrong which I love to do."