Walcott to miss World Cup qualifier against Ukraine

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Walcott to miss World Cup qualifier against Ukraine

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Theo Walcott will miss England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine due to illness.

10 September,2012 09:47 pm

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott will miss Englands World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley on Tuesday after going down with an illness over the weekend.Walcott, who came on as a second half substitute in Fridays 5-0 win over Moldova, missed training on Monday after complaining of feeling ill 24 hours earlier and has returned to his club.Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge was also unable to train on Monday due to stomach cramps, but the England medical team remain hopeful he will be fit for the Group H clash against Ukraine at Wembley.England manager Roy Hodgson responded to Walcotts withdrawal by calling-up Liverpools 17-year-old winger Raheem Sterling, Tottenham midfielder Jake Livermore and Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana.Theo has picked up some sort of virus, Hodgson said. He was quite violently ill last night.Jamaica-born Sterling, who has broken into Liverpools first-team this season, has been offered the chance to play for the country of his birth, but his call-up to the England squad may persuade him to snub their approach.Hodgson believes Livermore and Lallana will also benefit from the chance to gain some experience with the senior squad.Lallana admitted he was stunned when told by Southampton manager Nigel Adkins.Hodgsons main selection dilemma is who will replace Terry at centre-back, with both Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka in the running.He has already made up his mind which one will face Ukraine and believes England remain solid enough defensively whoever fills in for Terry.