England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson looks set to pick a teenage striker who has
never played in a Premier League game, along with injured stars Wayne Rooney and
Michael Owen, in his 27-man provisional World Cup squad.
Arsenal's Theo Walcott, 17, was expected to be named in the squad Monday even
though he has yet to play for the Gunners' senior side. He joined Arsenal in
January from Football League Championship club Southampton when he was still 16.
British newspapers reported Monday that Eriksson had made two trips to
Arsenal's training ground to watch Walcott and came away convinced he deserved a
chance.
Rooney is recovering from a broken foot and is doubtful for England's three
group matches, although Eriksson hopes he could be back for the latter stages of
the June 9-July 9 tournament.
Owen has also struggled to recover from a broken toe sustained on December
31.
England plays Paraguay on June 10, Trinidad and Tobago on June 15 and Sweden
on June 20. Injured players can be replaced up to 24 hours before England's
first game.
Defenders Ledley King, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole are also set to be named
to the squad despite not being fully fit. King broke his foot on April 17 and
the two Arsenal defenders have barely played in 2006.
Walcott could be among four players named by Eriksson on a standby list for
injured players. Other contenders include Manchester United defenders Wes Brown
and Phil Neville, Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves and Birmingham
striker Emile Heskey.
Walcott was named on the bench for Arsenal in several matches, including in
the Champions League, but never played. He'd made 13 starts for Southampton
before joining Arsenal for a transfer fee which could reach 12 million pounds
(US$22.3 million; euro17.5 million).
Eriksson is likely to name five strikers to the squad, with Liverpool's
2-meter (6-foot-7) Peter Crouch certain to go. Other candidates are Tottenham's
Jermain Defoe and Charlton's Darren Bent.
With backup goalkeeper Robert Green of Norwich struggling with an ankle
injury, Liverpool's third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson could get his first
international call-up.
Two wide players, Tottenham's Aaron Lennon and Middlesbrough's Stewart
Downing, could also get a place in the squad.
Eriksson will name his final 23-man squad by May 15.
