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Theo Walcott does not want to see Max Dowman selected for this summer's World Cup
Theo Walcott has urged Arsenal gem Max Dowman to snub the World Cup if the call arrives - because he suffered as a 17-year-old wildcard pick in England's 2006 squad.
The former Gunners forward did not play a single minute at the tournament and he feels Sven-Goran Eriksson's shock decision had a negative impact on his development.
Walcott said when asked if Dowman could sneak a spot on the plane after Thomas Tuchel refused to rule out selecting the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer: "I hope he [Dowman] doesn't. I don't mean it in a horrible way because if I could go back in time, I would change things.
"I would say to myself: 'No, no, don't do it' but then try telling that to a 17-year-old! I do still see him and me differently as he's playing in the Premier League but he needs to grow at his own pace, also on the emotional side because he's a young adult, a teenager.
"I had to grow up very fast but this team is still young and not as experienced. He's being protected, which is important, whereas I had to get thrown in to talk to you lot!
"In time he will go, yes, but I don't think this is the time and I think there are better players who arguably deserve to be there ahead of him.
"He will eventually get there but England have wide players doing really well, there's Bukayo [Saka], [Noni] Madueke, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes on the other side."
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Walcott had not even made his Arsenal debut by the time he stepped foot on the plane to the biggest stage in world football.
Dowman, however, already has a Gunners goal to his name against Everton and he also made his Champions League debut back in November against Slavia Prague when he became the youngest ever play to feature in Europe's elite club competition.
Walcott, now 37, feels the irresistible prodigy is at the perfect club for his development. He added: "The great thing about him is he plays with freedom and to his strengths."I think it's credit to Mikel Arteta for allowing to that happen. Even the other week at Mansfield, the pitch was awful but you wouldn't have thought so as the ball was stuck to his feet.
"Whenever he's been tested, he's passed with flying colours. Still, we can't get ahead of ourselves, we need to give him time.
"In Mikel he's got a good man around him and top players to learn from, Bukayo will look after him and I think that's important, he's in a good space."
Walcott, who announced his retirement from the game back in August 2023, is looking to fire the England XI to glory when they square off against a star-studded World XI in the 20th anniversary of Soccer Aid for UNICEF on Sunday, May 31 at the London Stadium.
The former Three Lions attacker previously scored in a 6-3 England win back in 2024 and this year, Soccer Aid are striving to smash the monstrous £121million donations record.
Tickets are on sale now at socceraid.org.uk/tickets
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