Rob the Red
Mar 21 2002, 01:34 PM
Des Walker is training with Nottingham Forest with a view to a permanent return to The City Ground!
The 36 year old former England international trained with the Forest squad today and it’s anticipated he will play for the reserves against Arsenal next Tuesday.
Walker, who made more than 340 appearances for The Reds between 1983 and 1992, has been out of League football since being released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.
He had a brief spell in America and was on the books of Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion for a time.
Manager Paul Hart told us: "Des has come in to get himself fit and play for the reserves with a view to us looking for a more long-term association.
"I wanted originally to bring him in last summer but that didn’t work out for a number of reasons.
"He’s a person I’ve got great admiration for. He was brought up at this football club when myself, Ian Bowyer and Chris Fairclough were here as players.
"He knows the way we work, what we’re after and he knows the way we try and play because it hasn’t really changed since he was a youngster.
"In that respect we know he’s going to be asset to us. I just hope we can work it so it becomes long term.
"Des wants to play - he loves playing football. He’s had a rest and he’s hungry again.
"I know one thing, he doesn’t look any different physically than he did when he first started out … I just wish I could say that about myself."
Walker launched his career as a City Ground apprentice and went on to establish himself as one of Europe’s finest central defenders.
He left Forest in ’92 to try his luck in Italy’s Serie A with Sampdoria but joined Wednesday in 1993. Walker won 59 England caps.
The 36 year old former England international trained with the Forest squad today and it’s anticipated he will play for the reserves against Arsenal next Tuesday.
Walker, who made more than 340 appearances for The Reds between 1983 and 1992, has been out of League football since being released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of last season.
He had a brief spell in America and was on the books of Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion for a time.
Manager Paul Hart told us: "Des has come in to get himself fit and play for the reserves with a view to us looking for a more long-term association.
"I wanted originally to bring him in last summer but that didn’t work out for a number of reasons.
"He’s a person I’ve got great admiration for. He was brought up at this football club when myself, Ian Bowyer and Chris Fairclough were here as players.
"He knows the way we work, what we’re after and he knows the way we try and play because it hasn’t really changed since he was a youngster.
"In that respect we know he’s going to be asset to us. I just hope we can work it so it becomes long term.
"Des wants to play - he loves playing football. He’s had a rest and he’s hungry again.
"I know one thing, he doesn’t look any different physically than he did when he first started out … I just wish I could say that about myself."
Walker launched his career as a City Ground apprentice and went on to establish himself as one of Europe’s finest central defenders.
He left Forest in ’92 to try his luck in Italy’s Serie A with Sampdoria but joined Wednesday in 1993. Walker won 59 England caps.