Walker determined to make most of big break

The 24-year-old is pencilled in to start tonight’s friendly against Brighton.

Walker has spent the past two days training with the Blues squad, with the trial set to end after the match with the Seagulls in Cadiz.

But having impressed sufficiently for hosts Gibraltar in the opening friendly of the tour – winning a trial in the process – the midfielder is in no mood to let his chance slip.

And Walker is desperate to prove to Michael Appleton he is worth a permanent deal.

He said: ‘I am 24 now. I am not old but I am not a young player any more.

‘You really have to take your chances – football doesn’t last forever.

‘This can be my break. I am here until tonight – after the game I am going home and then it is up to the manager.

‘I joined the lads on Sunday for what was an intense training session.

‘At the end of it I was pretty shattered but I haven’t done any pre-season at all.

‘I had a word with some of the players and they said it was a pretty intense one, anyway.

‘I was happy with how it went and it was good to meet the lads.

‘My family are really happy for me.

‘My nan and uncle actually stood with the Pompey fans during the Gibraltar game and when I went up to say “hello” a couple of the fans were joking and said “come and sign for us”.

‘Hopefully the Brighton game will go well so I can have a good chance of making that happen.’