Theo Walcott urges Max Dauman to ignore World Cup if Thomas Tuchel picks Arsenal talent

Theo Walcott, who was selected for England’s 2006 World Cup squad as a 17-year-old rookie, hopes Max Dowman will miss this summer’s North American tournament.

85 days after England’s World Cup opener against Croatia in Texas, manager Thomas Tuchel has a lot to ponder. The outspoken and forward-thinking Three Lions manager is no stranger to big challenges, leaving the door firmly open for a late-game surprise.

Jude Bellingham was abruptly removed from the squad in October, and Real Madrid teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold had been recently overlooked as the 35-man roster was expanded for games against Uruguay and friendlies against Japan. Manager Tuchel is doing everything he can to end England’s grueling 60-year wait for glory.

So he hasn’t ruled out using North America’s unique secret weapon: Arsenal’s 16-year-old prodigy Max Dauman. The German player has already described him as a “game changer”.

While the dazzling Gunners phenomenon is not yet part of the senior squad – he currently plays for Guimarães with England Under-19s – there is no doubt there will be talk about the red-hot teenager within the walls of St George’s Park. But history teaches us that anything with the potential for mercury must be treated with extreme care and diligence. Theo Walcott, 17 years and 75 days old, remains the youngest debutant in England’s history, but that longstanding record will disappear if Dowman is selected this summer.

read more: Mikel Arteta questions his decision to wait as Arsenal pay for their hesitationread more: Inside Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid and England nightmare after leaving Liverpool

But Walcott feels, based on his personal experience, that Dowman should avoid a World Cup call-up, even if he earns a flight ticket based on his GCSE exam results.

The 37-year-old points out that his shock inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad in 2006 – he had yet to feature for Arsenal’s first team – created unnecessary hype and had a negative impact on his development.

“I hope he (Dauman) doesn’t go. I don’t mean that in a bad way, because if I could go back in time, I would change things. You say to yourself, ‘Oh no, don’t do that,’ but try saying that to a 17-year-old!” Walcott said. Me and him still have a different perspective because he’s playing in the Premier League, but he’s a young adult so he needs to grow at his own pace, especially emotionally. “I had to grow up very quickly, but this team is still young and inexperienced. He is protected, which is important, but I had to be thrown in to talk to you guys a lot!”

“At some point he will go, but I don’t think now is the time and there are definitely better players ahead of him who deserve to be there. He will get there eventually, but England have wide players who are doing great. They have Bukayo (Saka), (Noni) Madueke, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes.” In 2008, Walcott made a name for himself on the international stage. In Zagreb, he stunned Croatia with a breathtaking hat-trick.

However, he was later removed from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa by coach Fabio Capello, and missed the 2014 Brazil tournament after undergoing knee surgery.

In Dauman’s mind, he just needs to stay focused on the here and now. “The great thing about him is that he is free to play to his strengths.

“I think credit to Mikel Arteta for allowing something like that to happen. Even last week at Mansfield, the pitch was terrible, but you wouldn’t have thought so because the ball was stuck to his feet.”

“Every time he has taken a test, he has passed with flying colors, but we still have to give him time because we cannot move on.

“Mikel has good players around him and can learn from the top players. Bukayo will look after him and I think that’s important. He’s in a good place.”

Theo Walcott will play at the UNICEF 20th Anniversary of Football Aid event at the London Stadium on Sunday 31st May. Tickets are on sale at socceraid.org.uk/tickets