ARSENAL wonderkid Theo Walcott has been recalled to the England squad for the first time since he travelled to the 2006 World cup in Germany, writes James Randall .

The 19-year-old was a shock selection for Sven Goran Ericsson's 2006 squad, and was later shunned by Fabio Capello's predecessor Steve McLaren.

The midfielder's inclusion in the 30 man squad - to face France next Wednesday - comes after the player has featured more prominently for Arsene Wenger's Gunners recently.

Walcott has spent much of the season filling in for Arsenal on the wing, but it is thought that Capello sees the player as an out an out forward.

The former Southampton forward has scored five times for the England Under-21's and will want to net his first senior goal against le Blues next week.

Walcott is the only Arsenal player to feature in the England squad.

England's provisional squad: James (Portsmouth), Carson (Aston Villa), Kirkland (Wigan); Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Lescott (Everton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Tottenham), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Owen (Newcastle), Defoe (Portsmouth).