Why Kyle Walker's Return Will Have a Positive Impact on Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur have corrected course after a series of poor results threatened to derail their start to the season. The impressive draw at Arsenal and equally strong performance at home against Southampton means that Spurs have entered the international break on a high. 

Things could be about to get even better, as Tom Collomosse of the Evening Standard reports that Kyle Walker is closing in on a return from the injury that has sidelined him for over six months.

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Mauricio Pochettino was unable to put a date on @kylewalker2's return from abdominal surgery, but says he is recovering well.

— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) October 1, 2014"

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When Walker missed the second leg of Spurs' Europa League quarter-final against Benfica in March, he was expected to make a swift return. Then-manager Tim Sherwood described Walker's absence as part of attempts to "manage an ongoing groin injury." 

However, Walker missed the rest of the season and England's World Cup campaign. He was able to play a part in Spurs' pre-season, but it was eventually determined that surgery was necessary to resolve his long-standing groin/pelvis issues and, on September 2, he underwent an operation. 

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Walker has played a tremendous amount of football since becoming Spurs' starting right-back. In three seasons he has made 131 appearances for Spurs and won an additional 10 caps for England.

Given the demanding nature of his position, it is remarkable that he avoided breaking down as long as he did. Despite being injured at the start of March, Walker still made the fifth most appearances of Tottenham outfield players in 2013/14. 

If Walker can return for Spurs at the start of November, he will bring a whole new dimension to Spurs and help facilitate Mauricio Pochettino's philosophy. 

One of Pochettino's consistent tactical demands is that his full-backs play exceptionally high up the pitch. Danny Rose has done a fine job on the left this season, keeping out £10 million defender Ben Davies, but Spurs have been forced to rely on Eric Dier and Kyle Naughton on the right. 

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Dier has impressed when deployed at right-back against the weaker teams, but against Liverpool he was exposed, and Pochettino rightly took him out of the firing line when Spurs travelled to the Emirates to face Arsenal. He is a brilliant young player who will certainly benefit from the playing time, but Dier is not a right-back.

Naughton too has been solid when called upon, but his ankle injury removes him from the immediate discussion. Some Spurs fans have called for Younes Kaboul to be deployed on the right, but the Frenchman has the same limitations as Dier in wide areas. Both are capable, enthusiastic and athletic, but neither possesses the necessary co-ordination in tight areas to adequately play the role. 

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Playing Eric Dier, or even Younes Kaboul, can't be a long-term thing for #Spurs. Too tall, don't have requisite body control in tight spaces

— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) October 8, 2014"

Walker is the archetypal modern full-back. Brilliant in attack and reliable in defence. He has his weaknesses and has a tendency to switch off, but he is far and away Spurs' best full-back. 

Pochettino's system gives him the freedom to attack at will and, given Spurs' lack of pace in forward areas, will provide a real spark.

As Spurs have begun to appropriate Pochettino's playing style, we have seen many more counter-attacks than in recent seasons. Walker will provide an additional option on the counter. 

He simply could not be better-suited to playing as Mauricio Pochettino's right-back. He will never be the next Gareth Bale, but he shares some of the characteristics that made Bale a deadly attacking full-back. 

Given that Pochettino prefers to play with inverted wingers, space naturally opens up on the flanks. Walker is the perfect player to exploit the width that is created when Erik Lamela drifts inside.

Paraguayan full-back Ivan Piris played the same role for Roma in Lamela's last season in Italy. He was able to constantly drive down the right and either take defenders away from Lamela or provide an outlet for a pass. 

It is fair to criticise Walker for his paltry goal return for Spurs. Possessing a powerful shot and the pace to join counter-attacks, he should score far more often. He almost certainly will in Pochettino's team. 

When Walker does return to full fitness, he will improve Spurs at both ends of the pitch.

His skill, in addition to his strength and athleticism, mark him out as the ideal player to join Pochettino's Tottenham team. He will improve the players around him and is likely to make an even bigger impact than in seasons past.