Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 4y

Man City's Walker jokes over Fortnite use in isolation

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has joked he is worried about becoming addicted to Fortnite during his isolation.

The England full-back is training at home after clubs across Europe shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He is filling his days with kickabouts in the garden with his three sons but admits he is also spending too much time playing the popular video game Fortnite.

"I am into Fortnite at the minute so that is taking up a lot of my time, probably more than it should be," Walker said.

"I am reaping the benefits as I am actually getting half decent now, but I do need to come off it. I can admit that! It is probably taking up a little bit too much time after I have put the kids down to bed."

City's players have been provided with gym equipment and individual training programmes to ensure they stay fit during the break.

Walker and his teammates have also been keeping in touch through WhatsApp -- although the 29-year-old revealed boss Pep Guardiola has not been allowed to join their group.

"Obviously Pep is not in the group chat," Walker said.

"I dropped him a text message last night saying 'hope you are OK, and I hope the family is well and fair play for donating the amount of money that you have donated.' That says a lot about him as a person.

"[The squad] have jumped on HouseParty a few times and got the banter going. You have got the group chat that is always going off on some sort of madness. I think it is about mainly keeping the brain active.

"It is important that you have a laugh with your mates and obviously we are in isolation but we are still lucky enough to have the internet and everything like that so let's use it to our advantage as much as we can."

Europe's top leagues and UEFA club competitions have been suspended indefinitely and a decision on when football might be able to return is yet to be made.

City have a lot to play for this season with a chance of silverware in both the Champions League and the FA Cup but Walker insists that is not be the priority during a global crisis.

"It's been tough, but first and foremost, we have to think about other people's health and protecting the elderly and family members that can spread it," Walker said.

"I think it is something where we have to just bite the bullet and think about others rather than yourselves."

^ Back to Top ^