Theo Walcott: Arsenal midfielder set to miss England vs Netherlands match with dead leg

The winger suffers a major blow to his Euro 2016 hopes with Adam Lallana set to be given chance to impress instead

Theo Walcott (GETTY IMAGES)

Theo Walcott is losing his battle to be fit for England’s friendly against Holland tonight after suffering a dead leg in training ahead of the Wembley clash.

The Arsenal forward had been due to win his 43rd cap against the Dutch after sitting out Saturday’s 3-2 victory against Germany in Berlin.

But with Walcott struggling to prove his fitness to England manager Roy Hodgson, Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is set to start in place of the 26-year-old.

Hodgson had been planning to make as many as ten changes to his team from the Germany team, but it is understood that he will now retain Lallana, Chris Smalling and Danny Rose in his starting XI tonight.

With James Milner due to captain England for the first time, Smalling is expected to partner John Stones at centre-half.

Walcott’s absence is a blow to the former Southampton youngster, however, with Hodgson admitting on Monday that tonight’s game is the last chance for his players to impress in an England shirt before he names his Euro 2016 squad on May 12.

You can follow tonight's match live here at independent.co.uk.