Theo Walcott has earned his first call-up the England Under-19 squad.
Theo Walcott has earned his first call-up the England Under-19 squad.
Walcott, along with Arsenal team-mate Kerrea Gilbert, has been named in the squad to take on Slovakia at Northampton's Sixfields Stadium on February 28.
Both Walcott and Gilbert have impressed this season - Walcott became the world's most expensive 16-year-old when The Gunners bought him for £12 million from Southampton in January.
Meanwhile, Gilbert has impressed during Arsenal's defensive injury crisis this season filling in well at right back in the absence of many star names.
England Under-19 coach Martin Hunter is excited by the upcoming game.
"I am looking forward to a very important game for us, as it is our last chance to get everyone together before the European Championship qualifiers get underway in May.
"I am hoping that the fans will see an attacking game of football. With a great deal of technical ability on display, it is sure to be an exciting match."
This year's Uefa European Under-19 Championship will be held in Poland, and England will face Belgium, Serbia & Montenegro and Northern Ireland in the Elite Qualifying round for the European Championship taking place in Belgium, between May 18-22.
England were beaten in the final of last year's Under-19s European Championship, losing out to France and will be looking to go one better this time.
England Under-19 Squad:
Ben Alnwick (Sunderland), Joe Hart (Shrewsbury Town); Joel Lynch (Brighton), Billy Jones (Crewe), Ben Parker (Leeds United), Richard Stearman (Leicester City), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Kerrea Gilbert (Arsenal); Mark Davies (Wolves), Lee Holmes (Derby County), Anthony Grant (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), Mark Noble (West Ham), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal); Moses Ashikodi (West Ham), Nathan Dyer (Southampton), Joe Garner (Blackburn), Jimmy Smith (Chelsea), Gavin Rothery (Leeds United).
