Walcott faces operation and three months on sidelines

Theo Walcott may appear for England at the 2012 Games but the dream has died for young players from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (GETTY IMAGES)

Theo Walcott has been told by a specialist that he must have surgery on his dislocated right shoulder and he will go ahead with the operation in the next two or three days. Walcott visited a Harley Street specialist yesterday evening having been flown back from Berlin by the Football Association before England's friendly against Germany. Last night the winger's club manager at Arsenal, Arsène Wenger, confirmed that Walcott will miss "at least three months" following the operation.

Having delayed surgery last season on his left shoulder, which had the same problem, Walcott believes that this time he should get the problem fixed before the Champions League resumes. The shoulder was injured in the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night after Walcott clashed with Scott Parker during a practice game.

He tried to play on but the shoulder popped out for a second time and he was carried out of the stadium on a stretcher. Walcott has since been told that the problem would have surfaced sooner or later whatever precautions he took. Two years earlier, his left shoulder was troubling him before Christmas but he waited until after the Carling Cup final in February before he went for the operation. On that occasion he delayed because he did not want to end his involvement without making what he thought was a major contribution to the team's season. Having scored in the Carling Cup final he then went ahead. This time around Walcott believes that he should get it done straight away.