Walcott named in England World Cup squad

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has included teenage striker Theo Walcott in his provisional 23-man World Cup squad alongside Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and Aaron Lennon – but there are no places for Ledley King, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermaine Defoe or Darren Bent.

Walcott, 17, has not played first-team football since his £12million move from Southampton in January but is regarded as one of the hottest talents in the game and Eriksson has decided to include him in his squad.