Credit: Imago

James Barker

Sun 12 April 2026 16:10, UK

Kyle Walker-Peters should remain West Ham United‘s starting right-back for the rest of the season after another strong performance against Wolves.

The 28-year-old has dipped in and out of Nuno Espirito Santo‘s starting lineup throughout the campaign, enjoying multiple short bursts in the team before being dropped.

He joined West Ham last summer on a free transfer following the expiration of his Southampton contract, and so he didn’t arrive at the London Stadium to much fanfare.

A two-cap England international, Walker-Peters is a proven and experienced defender at Premier League level, but that’s not been reflected with his West Ham role this season, starting just 11 league games.

But, his performance in West Ham’s draw with Wolves has to have merited a promotion in the pecking order now for the rest of the campaign.

How good was Kyle Walker-Peters in West Ham vs Wolves?

Before Friday’s clash with Wolves, Walker-Peters hadn’t started a league game since the 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on 6 January this year.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been the right-back of choice for Nuno for the majority of the season, but the 28-year-old has put in some shaky performances of late.

Walker-Peters has been the cup right-back over the last few weeks, with the former Saints star being in the XI against Burton, Brentford and for the quarter-final with Leeds United respectively.

His showing against Daniel Farke’s side was impressive, and he played like someone who knew that there was a chance to capitalise on Wan-Bissaka’s poor run of form.

Nuno has been urged to start Walker-Peters over Wan-Bissaka for the relegation run-in, and that’s exactly what he did when he named his team for a must-win game with Wolves.

He was rewarded greatly too, with Walker-Peters putting in a brilliant display on the right flank of defence.

So, whilst it was Taty Catellanos and Konstantinos Mavroponas who took the headlines for their respective braces, Walker-Peters needs his flowers too.

As per Sofascore, he made seven defensive contributions, won three of his four tackles, blocked one shot, won eight of his 10 ground duels and was dribbled past on zero occasions.

He also created one big chance, played two key passes, registered a 92 per cent pass success rate, took 66 touches and made 13 carries with the ball.

Walker-Peters may have wild World Cup dreams if he keeps going

On the face of it, putting Walker-Peters’ name up as a England World Cup squad candidate seems incredibly far-fetched, but, you know, it’s actually not.

Reece James is once again injured, but if fit for the summer, he of course will go and be Thomas Tuchel’s starting right-back for the competition.

However, the competition for the one or two backup spots is absolutely wide open.

Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn’t been able to win favour with Tuchel yet, Kyle Walker has retired from international football, and that just leaves the likes of Tino Livramento, Rico Lewis and Ben White as the other main contenders.

So, should Walker-Peters keep his starting role for West Ham for the rest of the season, and keep putting in the standard of performances seen over recent days, he might just have a chance of being on the plane.