Tommy Walsh realises there are big expectations surrounding his return to the Kerry jersey but he won't be distracted from the task at hand.

The All-Ireland champions have welcomed back the Kerins O Rahillys clubman with open arms following his five-year stint in Aussie Rules and, speaking to The Irish Independent, the player admitted: "I think there is going to be expectations.

"And as a team, there's going to be expectations because Kerry are All-Ireland champions as well. You can't get frustrated. You just have to try harder than the year before to get back there again.

"I know there will be expectation on me as well but I can't get frustrated (either). Even though I'm in a rush to do it, I have to be patient as well.

"If I was concerning myself with outside talk, I may as well just give up now. I can't let it affect me. You see how the lads didn't let it affect them last year. You can't believe everything that's written - whether it's good or bad, you can't believe it.

"You just have to go out and be very critical of yourself and of your performances and just buy in to what the team are trying to do.

"In fairness to Eamonn, he runs a very tight set-up there and it's been very impressive over the last few weeks to see.

"I know that as a team, we won't be focusing on any external talk."

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