They say blood is thicker than water but that does not ring true for Kyle Walker, with the Tottenham right-back's own family hoping he slips up against Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup semi-finals. Born and raised in the Steel City, the 24-year-old makes no secret of his Yorkshire roots and his love for the Blades, even going to Wembley last season to watch their FA Cup semi-final against Hull. Walker spent many weekends as a child at Bramall Lane with his grandfather watching his idols Brian Deane and Peter Ndlovu, before stepping out on the hallowed turf himself. Kyle Walker, pictured playing for Tottenham at the weekend, is looking ahead to facing his old club . Walker (left) - and Spurs - face Sheffield United, the club he grew up supporting, in the Capital One Cup . The right-back remains a dyed-in-the-wool Blade despite only making a handful of appearances before leaving in 2009 for Spurs, who he will on Wednesday be hoping to help reach the Capital One Cup final at his boyhood club's expense. 'It's such an important game, especially for me,' Walker said. 'It's not going to be easy. Hopefully we can get a comfortable lead here because this is our patch, but we need to play the football we have been playing in recent weeks. 'It is going to be a far from easy tie, especially up at Bramall Lane. They will chuck everything at us up there. 'I have obviously supported the club since I was a boy and played for the club before I came here. 'I know their spirit and what the coaches will want. It's going to take a lot of hard work for us to get to Wembley.' Walker, pictured playing for the Blades against Burnley in the 2009 Playoff Final at Wembley - Burnley won 1-0 . Walker admits he grew up watching the likes of Brian Deane (right, pictured in 1997/98) at Bramall Lane . This will be just the second time Walker has played United, having featured at Bramall Lane in an FA Cup third-round tie when on loan at Aston Villa four years ago. 'I played for my first game on loan for Aston Villa against United in the cup and scored,' the right-back said. 'Not only that but it was with my left foot. 'I think as a professional footballer you have to do your job. My heart will always be with Sheffield United but I am a Tottenham player and they are my club.' There are no such split loyalties for Walker's family, though. 'No (they won't be cheering me on) - they are Sheffield United fans,' he said. 'Seriously. 'They obviously support me and want me to do well, but they will be wanting Sheffield United to go through, although it is a bit of a win-win situation for them because either way they will go to Wembley.' Walker inspects the Selhurst Park pitch ahead of Spurs' game against Crystal Palace . Walker in action for Sheffield United Under 18s against Huddersfield Under 18s in January 2007 . Even his three-year-old son, Roman, is a United fan - 'I'm a Blade so he's a Blade,' Walker said - and will be among the friends and family at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. The full-back was inundated with messages and phone calls after the draw pitted Spurs against United - with the interest so intense that he outsourced ticket requests to his mother. 'I had to put a deadline on them,' he said. 'My mum has been dealing with all the requests from family and friends and she told them they all had to get in touch with her by a certain date or else they would be left disappointed. 'They had a couple of weeks to contact my mum before the cut-off point. 'Luckily everything went through my mum's phone so I didn't have to deal with it. I can't remember exactly how many I've got coming to the first game but I know there are 17 in the away end and the rest are in with the Tottenham fans.'
Tottenham face Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup semi-final .
Kyle Walker is from Sheffield and even watched Sheffield United play in the FA Cup semi-final against Hull last season at Wembley .
The Spurs right-back admits his own family will be hoping Tottenham lose .
He says his heart will always be with Sheffield United but he is a Tottenham player and they are his club .
They say blood is thicker than water but that does not ring true for Kyle Walker, with the Tottenham right-back's own family hoping he slips up against Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup semi-finals. Born and raised in the Steel City, the 24-year-old makes no secret of his Yorkshire roots and his love for the Blades, even going to Wembley last season to watch their FA Cup semi-final against Hull. Walker spent many weekends as a child at Bramall Lane with his grandfather watching his idols Brian Deane and Peter Ndlovu, before stepping out on the hallowed turf himself. Kyle Walker, pictured playing for Tottenham at the weekend, is looking ahead to facing his old club . Walker (left) - and Spurs - face Sheffield United, the club he grew up supporting, in the Capital One Cup . The right-back remains a dyed-in-the-wool Blade despite only making a handful of appearances before leaving in 2009 for Spurs, who he will on Wednesday be hoping to help reach the Capital One Cup final at his boyhood club's expense. 'It's such an important game, especially for me,' Walker said. 'It's not going to be easy. Hopefully we can get a comfortable lead here because this is our patch, but we need to play the football we have been playing in recent weeks. 'It is going to be a far from easy tie, especially up at Bramall Lane. They will chuck everything at us up there. 'I have obviously supported the club since I was a boy and played for the club before I came here. 'I know their spirit and what the coaches will want. It's going to take a lot of hard work for us to get to Wembley.' Walker, pictured playing for the Blades against Burnley in the 2009 Playoff Final at Wembley - Burnley won 1-0 . Walker admits he grew up watching the likes of Brian Deane (right, pictured in 1997/98) at Bramall Lane . This will be just the second time Walker has played United, having featured at Bramall Lane in an FA Cup third-round tie when on loan at Aston Villa four years ago. 'I played for my first game on loan for Aston Villa against United in the cup and scored,' the right-back said. 'Not only that but it was with my left foot. 'I think as a professional footballer you have to do your job. My heart will always be with Sheffield United but I am a Tottenham player and they are my club.' There are no such split loyalties for Walker's family, though. 'No (they won't be cheering me on) - they are Sheffield United fans,' he said. 'Seriously. 'They obviously support me and want me to do well, but they will be wanting Sheffield United to go through, although it is a bit of a win-win situation for them because either way they will go to Wembley.' Walker inspects the Selhurst Park pitch ahead of Spurs' game against Crystal Palace . Walker in action for Sheffield United Under 18s against Huddersfield Under 18s in January 2007 . Even his three-year-old son, Roman, is a United fan - 'I'm a Blade so he's a Blade,' Walker said - and will be among the friends and family at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. The full-back was inundated with messages and phone calls after the draw pitted Spurs against United - with the interest so intense that he outsourced ticket requests to his mother. 'I had to put a deadline on them,' he said. 'My mum has been dealing with all the requests from family and friends and she told them they all had to get in touch with her by a certain date or else they would be left disappointed. 'They had a couple of weeks to contact my mum before the cut-off point. 'Luckily everything went through my mum's phone so I didn't have to deal with it. I can't remember exactly how many I've got coming to the first game but I know there are 17 in the away end and the rest are in with the Tottenham fans.'
right-back's own family hoping he slips up against Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup Wembley last season to watch their FA Cup semi-final against Hull. Walker spent many face Sheffield United, the club he grew up My heart will always be with Sheffield United but I am a Tottenham player and they are my club.'