Arsene Wenger has urged England coach Steve McClaren to recall Theo Walcott to the national side, more than a year after the 18-year-old was controversially named in the 2006 World Cup squad.

Walcott has been a revelation this season and played a starring role in Arsenal’s 7-0 Champions League thrashing of Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium last night.

Only a brilliant one-handed save denied him a hat-trick as Arsenal recorded their biggest win in the competition, and the joint-best in Europe by any team.

England could certainly do with some fresh impetus up front, after the poor showing in their latest Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, and Wenger is convinced Walcott has matured sufficiently to make his mark on the international stage.

He said: “You complain about not having any strikers and he’s one of them. He has intelligence, fantastic pace and his technique is improving.

“When you go from being a young promising player to the world of men, you discover the world is not as ideal as you thought.

“We saw how clinical his finishing can be. He doesn’t panic in front of goal. He has the talent.”

From Telegraph 

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