Theo Walcott
Theo Walcott, England's great young hope
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Age: 18
Position: Forward
Country: Argentina
Caps: 6
Goals: 1
Club: Barcelona
Former clubs: Gr |  |
Thursday, 25, May 2006 12:27
Age: 17
Position: Forward
Country: England
Caps: 0
Goals: 0
Club: Arsenal
Previous clubs: Southampton, AFC Newbury
Estimated Chelsea-target value: Too late for Roman, I'm afraid. Chelsea have already tried waving wads of cash this year to no avail
In his own words: I did have holidays booked for all the family but I can cancel that now, it's no big deal.
Sven-Goran Eriksson is well aware that the gamble of putting his trust in the raw talent of Theo Walcott could be one of the defining moments of his time in charge of England.
Just as Tony Blair is attempting to ensure his legacy as prime minister by forcing through his raft of reforms before he steps down, so too the usually ultra-cautious Swede appears to have one eye on becoming an England legend.
His decision to include 17-year-old Walcott in his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Germany sent shockwaves around the football world - not least because the Arsenal striker's remarkable elevation came at the expense of experienced international Jermain Defoe.
While Walcott, who has not so much as set foot on a Premiership pitch since his move from Southampton to Arsenal in January, gets used to the dizzying opportunity that now presents itself to him, Defoe is left as one of five England players on standby.
The first murmurings of such a shock choice emerged after Arsene Wenger, Walcott's manager at Arsenal who has kept the young prodigy wrapped in the proverbial cotton wool all year, revealed that Eriksson had come calling.
Wenger disclosed the fact that the Swede had visited him to check on the progress of the Newbury-bred teenager, but most observers still expected Eriksson to err on the side of caution and name the youngster, at best, as one of his reserves who will move up in the event of injury before June 9th.
But Eriksson has taken no such path and has instead played arguably the most risky hand of his England managerial poker game.
"It's a big gamble, I don't deny it," Eriksson said. "[Walcott] is a great talent. I have 23 players, why not take one gambling?"
With Wayne Rooney needing to defy all the odds to overcome his fractured metatarsal in time to be fit for anything other than a cameo role in Germany, and strike partner Michael Owen still not 100 per cent fit following his recent foot injury, it seems likely that Walcott is not just going to make up the numbers.
The only other recognised striker in the 23 is Liverpool's beanpole frontman Peter Crouch, himself the owner of a mere five England caps, making Eriksson's decision even more of a surprise.
Whether it goes down as brave or foolhardy only time will tell, but Eriksson has undoubtedly ensured his final fling as England boss will be a memorable one.
Martin Ashplant