GERARD Houllier has tipped Kyle Walker as a future England player – after allowing former Three Lions hopeful Curtis Davies to join Birmingham.

Fabio Capello name-checked Walker ahead of a possible call-up for next month’s friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen.

And Houllier agrees that the on-loan Spurs right-back has the attributes to step up onto the international stage.

Walker will return to the Villa starting XI against Blackburn in the FA Cup today after missing the Premier League wins over Manchester City and Wigan with back trouble.

“Oh yes I share Capello’s view on that,” said Houllier. “It would be good for him. I think Kyle knows he’s got a lot of areas where he can improve.

“What I like about him is his attitude. He’s eager to improve to progress. He was eager to play, If I had pushed him at Wigan he would have played.

“But I didn’t want to have him out of the team for three or four weeks.

“He’s a specific right-back and a modern one, somebody who can defend and who can also get forward. The right-back now has got to be able to be a defender, a midfielder and a winger.”