Kyle Walker needs no motivation to produce his best every time he pulls on a claret and blue shirt — he knows he could be fitting kitchens for a living instead.

The defender has been a hit with Villa supporters having joined the club on a sixth-month loan deal during the January transfer window.

Walker, who will start against Stoke tomorrow, has scored two goals in 13 appearances and has impressed with his attacking runs down the right flank as well as his defensive play.

His form dipped slightly at the beginning of the month but he came roaring back with a superb display in the win at West Ham last weekend.

And the 20-year-old right-back  admitted he never gives anything less than 100 per cent because he realises how lucky he is to be playing professional football.

“Sometimes I do pinch myself and it’s also why I get so frustrated when I’m not at my best, because one of my friends is a kitchen fitter,” said Walker.

“So when I’m getting up every morning and I’m coming to training, I remember he’s going to fit kitchens.

“Sometimes I remember that and I think ‘Kyle you’re not putting your whole effort in here’ and that’s when I get frustrated with myself.

“By the way, if you want a kitchen get on to him!

“It’s been like a whirlwind three years for me since breaking into the Sheffield United first team, then going to Tottenham, going back to the Blades, back to Tottenham, QPR and then here.

“I was speaking to my mum saying I don’t think I’d have ever thought I’d be at Villa at the age of 20 after only breaking into the side virtually a year-and-a-half ago.”

Walker was quick to tweet his support for Villa boss Gerard Houllier, who is recovering from illness in hospital  and will not be in the dugout for the visit of Stoke.

And the promising youngster believes the chance of first-team football afforded to him by the Frenchman has helped aid his development as a player.

“I think I’m always improving. I’m always going to learn off the experienced players and that’s what I’ve needed to do,” explained Walker.

“You’ve got a defence which is vastly experienced with Richard Dunne, James Collins and Luke Young and you definitely benefit from that.

“Goalkeeper Brad Friedel’s also played countless games and he’s not just talking to you or shouting ‘do this, do that’. He coaches you through the game and when you can hear that behind you it makes you feel confident in yourself.

“They’ve all got experience and they’re all internationals, or have been, which helps a lot.

“That’s what I want to be and hopefully I can learn from them.

“In the Championship you could get away with not being in position as quickly, but I think in the Premier League if you’re not in position quickly, the opposition pick you off.

“That’s what I’ve found I’ve learned the most. Getting into position, then you organise your back four.

“Also when Stewart Downing, Ashley Young come at you in training I like it. It’s the best way to improve, playing against them rather than some youth team player who’s not got as much experience as them. So hopefully I am improving and people can see that.”

Walker’s attacking runs, in particular, have been an eye-catching feature of his game which has seen him promoted to the full England squad by coach Fabio Capello.

He is yet to win a full international cap but both Capello and Houllier have encouraged Walker to make the most of his attacking intentions for club and country.

“Going forward I think I can do perfectly welI. I think I need to concentrate on my defending and if that comes hopefully I’ll be harder to break down,” added Walker.

“The best form of defence is attack isn’t it? So if I’m taking the winger the other way then hopefully I can run for a lot longer than him.

“He’s going to be knackered and they might need to bring another winger on. So as soon as I see the board going up and their winger’s going off I feel I’ve done my job because in modern day football you need your wide men to create things.

“I back myself running-wise because I don’t think most wingers are going to be able to run with me.

“I was surprised at Ryan Giggs — what a player he is for his age — and how far he could run with me.”