Arsenal striker Theo Walcott is currently on international duty with England, and a club rival is catching his eye.
Midfielder Dele Alli has been handed his first England call up after a strong start to his first Premier League season. The teenager starred in MK Dons’ promotion chase in League 1 last season and earned himself a transfer to Spurs, though he stayed in Milton Keynes until the summer.
Now he is already establishing himself as an important part of the Tottenham midfield, and could play for England in the next week.
“Seeing him for the first time, he’s a big lad,” Walcott said. “He’s very classy on the ball and he’s only 19 so he’s got a long England career ahead of him, and with Tottenham as well.”
Walcott was called up for a World Cup at the age of 17, though he had never played a top flight game of football. He wasn’t afforded an opportunity at the competition but knows just what it’s like to have attention on you at such a young age.
While he said he would offer Alli any help he needed, Walcott seemed to think the 19-year-old will cope just fine.
“He’s in the spotlight straight away. I’m always there for him as I was in the England squad at the age of 17. I’ve been through it so he’s always got plenty of people here to talk to. Looking at him, he’s the sort of player who’d be able to deal with anything.”
The Arsenal striker also reserved some praise for Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, who scored twice against the Gunners just over two weeks ago.
.@theowalcott: @vardy7‘s form for @LCFC is outstanding, he’s been scoring goals but his work rate is exceptional, too.
— England (@england) October 7, 2015
With Wayne Rooney an injury doubt, Vardy will be one of the players threatening Walcott for a place in the side. Hopefully Theo continues his recent good form and returns to Arsenal fully fit.