Waddle worried about Walcott

Chris Waddle has questioned Theo Walcott’s England credentials and claims the Arsenal winger “doesn’t understand the game”.

Walcott, 20, gave a disappointing performance in last night’s 3-1 victory over Egypt, and England improved after he was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips early in the second half.

Four years ago Walcott was selected for England’s World Cup squad before he played a first-team match for Arsenal.

However his prospects of earning a place on the trip for the finals in South Africa this summer may now be fading.

Waddle, 49, who won 62 England caps and helped Bobby Robson’s team reach the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, criticised the young Gunner’s knowledge of how to fill a wide role.

Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, Waddle said: “I’ve never seen him develop. He just doesn’t understand the game for me – where to be running, when to run inside a full-back, (when to) just play a one-two.”

He added: “People keep saying to me, ’Oh he’s young and he’ll learn’.

“I keep thinking, ’Fabregas has learnt and he’s young, Rooney has learnt... they all read the game so well’.

“I just don’t think he’s got a football brain and he’s going to have problems.”