England manager Roy Hodgson has warned Arsenal forward Theo Walcott that he faces being left behind if his injury problems continue, reports the Daily Express.
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The 26-year-old has been suffering from a knee problem over the last 9 months, which had ruled him out of the World Cup in the summer. He has found it difficult to get back in to the Gunners’ side since his return from the physio’s room, and didn’t start for England in their Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania on Friday.
With Harry Kane making his national team debut and scoring in the game, it could now be even harder than before for Walcott to get back in to the side. Daniel Sturridge still has to come back from injury, and other rivals Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck both scored against Lithuania.
Hodgson said: “Crossroads is probably quite a tough term. I don’t want to be quoted saying he’s at a crossroads. But it is an important few months for him. He has been concentrating on training. We’ve enjoyed having him back. You can see he likes to be with England and enjoys that aspect of his professional football career.
“But he has got to satisfy a few of his critics and, if you like, make certain a) he stays fit and b) gets his place back as one of the first names on the Arsenal team sheet. When he does that, he might be pushing for a first name on the England team sheet.”