Kyle Walker hailed as England class

Villa manager Gerard Houllier has hailed Kyle Walker as "international quality" after the defender was rewarded for his impressive performances with an England call-up.

Walker found the net in Villa's 2-2 draw with Fulham with a brilliant long-range strike and caught the eye with his all-around game.

The 20-year-old has been in great form since he joined the claret and blues on loan from Tottenham until the end of the season.

England boss Fabio Capello has also been impressed and could give Walker, who has made four appearances for the under-21 side, his first cap in Wednesday's friendly against Denmark.

Houllier said: "Walker showed some international quality against Fulham because he is fast and he is quick, he can defend and he can burst through and his use of the ball is good.

"He is not the finished article and maybe Glen Johnson is ahead of him. This is only his first experience in the Premier League."

The right-back admitted his buccaneering attacking style comes from the fact he started life as a striker and was switched to defence while at Sheffield United.

Walker also revealed that he was encouraged to watch recently-retired Manchester United full-back Gary Neville and current Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole to help develop his game.

He said: "I was converted to a defender in my second year of scholarship. When I became a right-back my coach told me to look at Gary Neville and Ashley Cole and I would learn a lot.

"That's what I've done."

Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has pulled out of Capello's squad for personal reasons.

Also out are Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Ben Foster and Peter Crouch. West Ham duo Robert Green and Carlton Cole have been called up.