Alan Shearer insists Theo Walcott deserves to go to the World Cup
with England.
Walcott came in for strong criticism from former England
winger Chris Waddle, which was supported by former national team
boss Graham Taylor, following a disappointing performance in the
friendly against Egypt earlier this month.
Both Waddle and Taylor questioned Walcott's intelligence as a
footballer, and his rate of progress, but former England captain
Shearer takes a different view of the Arsenal forward.
And with David Beckham's Achilles injury ruling him out of
contention, Shearer suggests Fabio Capello should look to Walcott
and Tottenham's Aaron Lennon when he assesses his options for the
right wing.
Shearer told BBC Radio Five Live: "I would have thought that
David Beckham would have gone to the World Cup, and I assume that
if Aaron Lennon is fit and playing well he will be, so I think
there's another place up for grabs.
"I would take Theo Walcott. I'm a fan of his.
"I know he's been criticised for his final ball and his
football brain but the future is very very bright for him."
Walcott turned 21 this week, and is best known as the player
picked by Sven-Goran Eriksson for the last World Cup before he
played a Premier League match.
He has shown good form only in flashes this season, but
Shearer expected him to be part of Capello's plans even before bad
luck struck Beckham.
"I would have thought he (Capello) might have used Theo
Walcott as his fifth striker, and I would have said there would be
no place for Carlton Cole," Shearer said.
"I would have Rooney as one, and Crouch, Heskey and Defoe
would be the others. I think there's another space there now.
"It still might be unlikely that Carlton Cole will go because
in a way he is similar to Crouch and to Heskey, but because of
David Beckham going he might use Theo Walcott as a right-hand side
player now rather than straight up the middle."
Shearer knows Wayne Rooney has a major role to play this
summer, after his scoring exploits for Manchester United this
season, but says England are not alone in needing big performances
from a talisman.
"We're leaning on him, yes, but (the same applies to) other
players in their teams," he said.
