Kyle Walker-Peters is quickly approaching a crossroads at Tottenham

Kyle Walker-Peters was tipped for a bright future as an Academy player, but he can’t seem to earn Mauricio Pochettino’s trust for Tottenham’s first team.

Part of Mauricio Pochettino’s ethos at Tottenham has been his proclivity to bring young, English talent through to the club’s first team. Kyle Walker-Peters has always seemed likely to turn into the next such player at Spurs, but his progress has suddenly stalled in North London.

At 22 years of age, now is the time when Walker-Peters should be taking his place in the Tottenham starting XI. Unfortunately for the young right back, that isn’t happening for him this season. Despite all of the uncertainty facing Spurs at his position, he’s been unable to step forward and claim the spot for his own.

The Evening Standard describes the player’s situation accurately as an inability to earn Pochettino’s “trust.” That’s precisely why Tottenham seem poised to start Moussa Sissoko at right back against Bayern Munich today despite the fact that the Frenchman has never played the position.

If Sissoko gets the nod today, it won’t represent the first time Pochettino has tried an inventive solution at right back this season instead of simply trusting Walker-Peters. Davinson Sanchez has gotten two starts at the position. Even Juan Foyth, who has grown into the game as a centre back has been tipped to move to right back once he returns to full health for Spurs. Even Serge Aurier, a player who seemed to have  permanent residence in Pochettino’s dog house has received a couple of starts lately.

The question really isn’t whether or not Pochettino trusts Walker-Peters. Instead, it’s why the Argentine gaffer won’t throw his English starlet into the fire. The simple truth is that Walker-Peters may not be big enough to play the position at the Premier League level.

By any measurement it’s clear that Walker-Peters is one of the smallest, weakest players in England’s top flight. That makes him a poor match-up to go against the physical attackers that some Premier League clubs employ on a weekly basis. He also isn’t so electric with his athleticism to overcome that issue. It’s not as if Walker-Peters is the defensive version of Raheem Sterling.

The player’s lack of size begs the question of whether or not his future in football lies further forward. His best moments in a Spurs shirt have come when he feels free to attack the opposition with reckless abandon. Perhaps a move to right wing would allow him to play to his strengths and mitigate his lack of strength and size.

It must be said, such a move would likely take him out of Spurs’ long-range plans. While he’s a potentially good attacker, he’s not going to displace the likes of Heung-Min Son or Lucas Moura anytime soon. Walker-Peters may be better served to head to a new club soon if he wants to carve our regular first team football at the Premier League level. It just doesn’t seem to be happening for the lad at Spurs.