'Sleeping like a baby' - Pep Guardiola makes huge Kyle Walker claim ahead of Man City return

Kyle Walker will return to Manchester City this weekend after leaving the club to sign for Burnley on a permanent deal in the summer.

Pep Guardiola hailed Kyle Walker as one of the greatest full-backs of all time and said he used to sleep like a baby when the England international was shackling wingers for fun in his heyday.

The 35-year-old returns to the Etihad with Burnley on Saturday after completing a £5million move to Turf Moor in the summer, ending his eight-year stay at the club.

Walker's form tailed off in his final season at City, and he asked to leave in January. He joined AC Milan on a six-month loan deal before being reunited with former Tottenham teammate Scott Parker at Burnley.

He made 319 appearances for the club, and Guardiola is looking forward to the reunion this weekend, having labelled him as one of the best ever in his position.

"One of the greatest full-backs ever," he said. "You have to control that side with wingers. I was sleeping like a baby before games with Kyle there. He can handle top-class wingers in the world.

"We always tried to read a situation and he was a better player. You are good with your long balls and the quality of your pass. He was an incredible right-back."

Walker has made a promising start to his Clarets career, but the challenge in front of him is a very different one this time around, with Burnley aiming for Premier League safety rather than chasing the kind of silverware Walker was so used to collecting with his former club.

"One of the greatest in terms of consistency and no injuries and playing every single game, an incredible figure in the locker room," he said.

"In nine years, six Premier Leagues, a Champions League, 18 titles, always being there in good moments and bad moments. The last season was tough for everyone, for all of us, but I don’t judge one behaviour over a short period of time. He was unbelievable."

Walker's time at City came to a disappointing end and wasn't without controversy, but Guardiola expects him to get a warm reception at the Etihad on Saturday.

"I’m pretty sure everybody is happy to see him back in a place where he has been an unbelievable figure for us," he said. "He has been the right-back that defined our time here for the last nine years. I’m pretty sure he will get the gratitude for our fans because he deserves it."

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