England could be without Tottenham defender Kyle Walker for the upcoming World Cup 2014 according to national team manager Roy Hodgson. The defender is currently injured on the sidelines, and is only expected to come back just before the end of the season.

This would allow him little time to get his fitness back up to 100%. As a result, Hodgson is expected to look at various alternatives to be the backup for Liverpool defender Glen Johnson, who will be the first choice at the World Cup. Johnson was struggling with injuries during the first half of the season.

Back then, Walker was a regular part of the flying Tottenham team that were chasing a top four finish. Things have changed dramatically in the second half of the season, as Tottenham have been struggling for any sort of consistency. They are out of contention for the top four with three matches left and the absence of Walker has been a major reason. His attacking threat coupled with the speed that he provides has been absent. Meanwhile, Johnson has been able to establish himself firmly in the Liverpool team that is challenging for the title.

Due to this current situation, Hodgson says that it is looking unlikely that Walker would be part of the World Cup 2014, though belgie zuidkorea odds makes Walker evens to make the squad.

“We haven’t been told for certain that he will be out for the next six to 10 weeks but we are concerned that it has been a long time he has been out. During that time he has not been able to do any training with the rest of the team as far as I know. I know he has had another injection. We are waiting to find out whether that helps. He has not been fit for a long time,” said Hodgson ahead of his team selection.