Can Burnley Survive with Kyle Walker?

Kyle Walker

Clarke Carlisle shares insights on Kyle Walker's potential impact on Burnley's Premier League survival bid.

“Going from Manchester to the town of Burnley is a very different proposition, even though it's only 15 miles down the road...”

Clarke Carlisle, a Turf Moor hero, believes Kyle Walker will be a shrewd signing for Burnley, bringing crucial experience to the team. Despite Burnley's current bottom-three position, Carlisle is optimistic about their chances, citing the team's defensive solidity as a foundation for success.

Walker, a 35-year-old defender, has joined Burnley from Manchester City on a two-year deal. Carlisle acknowledges that Walker might face some challenges adapting to Burnley's style, given his past experience playing at Manchester City. However, he's confident Walker's quality will contribute significantly to the team. Carlisle also notes that Walker's pace, which was once a key attribute, may not be as sharp as it used to be, potentially leading to some difficulties.

The former defender emphasizes Burnley's impressive start to the season, particularly their defensive strength. Carlisle believes this solidity will be crucial in helping the team navigate the challenges of the Premier League and potentially avoid relegation. With Walker's experience and quality, Carlisle is convinced Burnley can beat the drop.

Former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker is a key target, according to Carlisle. Walker, a seasoned defender with over 150 games for the Clarets, shared his thoughts on potentially joining the team, saying, “He's spent a decade or more at Manchester City, and you can be of the greatest pedigree, the greatest quality with all due respect, coming to Turf Moor is a very different proposition.

“Going from Manchester to the town of Burnley is a very different proposition, even though it's only 15 miles down the road. So yes, I expect his quality to contribute on the pitch but in a wider kind of you know, embedding yourself in the team and in a different unit, it's going to take a little bit of time.

“Which is why I was so impressed by those first few games, you know, that there was some key personnel that were changed, especially in the defensive unit, yet there still wasn't a decimation of those defensive standards.

“The one thing I will say about Kyle Walker is that for the entirety of his career, his pace has corrected errors and now he's getting to an age where his pace isn't as consistent or as on call as it was. So I think there might be one or two situations in a team and as a unit that maybe aren't as domineering in possession as Manchester City were, where it will cause one or two more problems for the team than Kyle is used to.

“But that being said, he's still possessed of such quality that he's a threat going forward and defensively.”

"There's a group of men that are willing to fight and die for each other on the pitch." 💪

Kyle Walker discusses his experience at Burnley so far 🗣️

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) October 11, 2025

Building on Defensive Strength

Burnley's defensive solidity is a foundation that manager Scott Parker and his players can build on, according to Clarke Carlisle. Despite their current league position, Carlisle believes this defensive strength is a positive aspect that can help the team improve and potentially avoid relegation.

He added, “Oftentimes you see sides come out of the championship with a great defensive record, but when they step into the Premier League, they still get systematically destroyed by that step-up in level.

“And I thought that the first three or four games at least showed that Burnley still have that defensive solidity to make the transition. And that in and of itself is very encouraging.”