Jamie Carragher disagrees with Sven-Göran Eriksson’s decision to call up Theo Walcott for the 2006 World Cup when the forward was just 17.

Despite only having made 13 senior appearances for Arsenal, Theo received his first England call-up in 2006 and Carragher believes it was simply too soon for the forward.

“The reason I feel a little bit for him, I was in the World Cup squad when he got picked in 2006, and he should not have got picked,” Carragher said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. “He should never have gone there.”

The Liverpool legend has a point. From day one, pressure was put on the young England international’s shoulders for club and country. Although Arsene Wenger tried to ease him into first-team football at Arsenal, Sven’s decision to call up him for the World Cup was out of his hands.

Theo probably pushed himself too hard and did too much, too soon. As a result, he became injury-prone, his game time at Arsenal dwindled and his call-ups dried up.

Walcott’s not been called up since November 2016 when he played for 63 minutes in a friendly against Spain. He failed to make a Premier League start for Arsenal this season before his move to Everton too.

The forward’s international future has been looking bleak of late, and he’s presumably aiming to change this situation ahead of the World Cup in the summer.

Without the stress that his rare appearances for Arsenal must have brought him, and with the addition of consistent playing time, I really hope the forward gets his England call-up, and wish him the best at Everton.