Walcott should have stayed - Burley

George Burley, Theo Walcott's former manager at Southampton, has said he believes the teenager's development has been harmed by his £12.5million move to Arsenal, where he has yet to make a first-team appearance.

"If I were his parents, I would have let him stay at Southampton, let him mature, give him time and then let him move along," he said.

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"If you move too early to a big club, it can be detrimental."

Burley also questioned Eriksson's decision to take the 17-year-old to the World Cup, saying: "Players have to earn the right. I'm sure there are one or two disappointed strikers out there who had earned the right to go to Germany and didn't get the opportunity."

Walcott has remained on the bench during Arsenal's pre-season during to an illness.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "Theo Walcott is a bit short. He has had a virus, so he has not practised well. He'll be fine in two weeks, but I may give him a run-out on Friday (at Alkmaar). I don't know yet.

"He was down physically, and we have had to build him up. The fittest players will play (in the qualifier) - whether it means Walcott or not I don't know yet."

William Hill, meanwhile, have rated the Southampton boss as the most secure manager in the Championship with odds of 40-1 of the Scotsman being the first manager to part company with his club this season.

Sunderland's chairman-manager Niall Quinn is favourite at 6-1.

"Although Niall Quinn seems unlikely to fall out with his Chairman, he has said in public that if he feels things are not going well or that he can persuade a big name boss to come to the club then he would have no hesitation in stepping down.

"For that reason we have made him favourite to be the first boss to leave his position," said William Hill's Graham Sharpe.