"Theo Walcott has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Wayne Rooney at the World Cup - even though he has not made a senior appearance for Arsenal.
The Gunners' teenage sensation is expected to be named in Sven Goran Eriksson's initial 27-man party for Germany at 2.30pm on Monday.
Rooney and Michael Owen will both be included despite injuries, but should either fail to make it to Germany, the England coach looks set to pin his faith in 17-year-old Walcott.
And while his inclusion would come as a major surprise, The People's Paul McCarthy has revealed that Eriksson has had one eye on the teenager long before Rooney broke his metatarsal against Chelsea or Owen suffered a setback in his recovery from a similar problem.
"It's just an incredible rise really, " he told Sky Sports News. "It's been absolutely phenomenal.
"It doesn't really seem to matter that he's not played for the first team. Sven Goran Eriksson and Tord Grip have probably seen Walcott more than they've seen any other England player in the last six or seven weeks.
"Sven has been to the Arsenal training ground three times, Tord Grip has been there and they've both spoken to Arsene Wenger about him. And Arsene Wenger is absolutely astonished at just how good Walcott is."
Walcott's inclusion will draw comparisons with Owen's own call-up to the 1998 finals in France, after just one full season in the Premiership.
Owen had far more experience under his belt than the former Southampton striker, but McCarthy has told the nation that Walcott is already a better prospect - and more than ready to play on the biggest stage of all and emulate Owen's heroics in France.
"What you'll find with Walcott is that what he gives you more than anything else, is pace," he said. "Pace and a lack of a fear, a lack of nerves. He takes everything in his stride.
"He's been training with the Arsenal first-team squad since the day he arrived, before he turned 17, so he's not going to be fazed. I've met him a couple of times and I was blown away by the maturity he showed was absolutely astonishing, the level-headedness for someone that young.
"Owen had scored a senior goal for Liverpool (before the 1998 World Cup), but what Arsene Wenger has been telling Sven Goran Eriksson is that technically Walcott is a better all-round player than him.
"He's not just a central striker, he can cover both positions out wide and I expect him to be named on stand-by, but I cannot see him being fazed. It would be astonishing if he went into the full squad... but stranger things have happened."
He's picked a 17 year old kid who hs never played first team football for arsenal or since he was sold in Jan by my beloved Southampton....now this has to be the shock of the world cup!!!!
a bleedin good one though!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
they say he's faster than theirry Henry
The Gunners' teenage sensation is expected to be named in Sven Goran Eriksson's initial 27-man party for Germany at 2.30pm on Monday.
Rooney and Michael Owen will both be included despite injuries, but should either fail to make it to Germany, the England coach looks set to pin his faith in 17-year-old Walcott.
And while his inclusion would come as a major surprise, The People's Paul McCarthy has revealed that Eriksson has had one eye on the teenager long before Rooney broke his metatarsal against Chelsea or Owen suffered a setback in his recovery from a similar problem.
"It's just an incredible rise really, " he told Sky Sports News. "It's been absolutely phenomenal.
"It doesn't really seem to matter that he's not played for the first team. Sven Goran Eriksson and Tord Grip have probably seen Walcott more than they've seen any other England player in the last six or seven weeks.
"Sven has been to the Arsenal training ground three times, Tord Grip has been there and they've both spoken to Arsene Wenger about him. And Arsene Wenger is absolutely astonished at just how good Walcott is."
Walcott's inclusion will draw comparisons with Owen's own call-up to the 1998 finals in France, after just one full season in the Premiership.
Owen had far more experience under his belt than the former Southampton striker, but McCarthy has told the nation that Walcott is already a better prospect - and more than ready to play on the biggest stage of all and emulate Owen's heroics in France.
"What you'll find with Walcott is that what he gives you more than anything else, is pace," he said. "Pace and a lack of a fear, a lack of nerves. He takes everything in his stride.
"He's been training with the Arsenal first-team squad since the day he arrived, before he turned 17, so he's not going to be fazed. I've met him a couple of times and I was blown away by the maturity he showed was absolutely astonishing, the level-headedness for someone that young.
"Owen had scored a senior goal for Liverpool (before the 1998 World Cup), but what Arsene Wenger has been telling Sven Goran Eriksson is that technically Walcott is a better all-round player than him.
"He's not just a central striker, he can cover both positions out wide and I expect him to be named on stand-by, but I cannot see him being fazed. It would be astonishing if he went into the full squad... but stranger things have happened."
He's picked a 17 year old kid who hs never played first team football for arsenal or since he was sold in Jan by my beloved Southampton....now this has to be the shock of the world cup!!!!
a bleedin good one though!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
they say he's faster than theirry Henry
