World Cup Walcott moves down to England Under-21s

LONDON, Aug 9 (Reuters) Teenage forward Theo Walcott, an unused member of England's World Cup squad under former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, has been passed over by new coach Steve McClaren and picked for the Under-21s.

Eriksson stunned English football by taking Walcott to the finals in Germany as the 17-year-old had yet to play a senior match for Arsenal since joining them in January.

Moving down a level, Walcott was picked today by Under-21 coach Peter Taylor for a European championship qualifier against Moldova at Ipswich next Tuesday.

McClaren, who has said he will do things differently to Eriksson, faces his first game in charge of the seniors a day later in a friendly against European champions Greece in Manchester.

McClaren, who was Eriksson's assistant, told the Football Association's Web site that he saw the Under-21s as a necessary first step to senior football for the likes of Walcott, striker Darren Bent and goalkeeper Scott Carson.

''I wanted Darren, Scott and Theo to have the chance to play some competitive Under-21s football,'' McClaren said.

''Darren has just come back from injury, Theo has not yet played a Premiership game and Scott faces stiff competition for games at Liverpool. The Moldova match will be very positive for all three of them.

''They are all still very much in my plans. I see the Under-21s as a very important stepping stone to the senior team and I will keep a close eye on them this season.'' Walcott's inclusion in the World Cup squad looked all the more curious as Eriksson called up only one fully-fit Premier League striker -- Peter Crouch.

Wayne Rooney, who was red carded in England's quarter-final defeat by Portugal, missed the start of the tournament after suffering a broken foot in April.

Strike partner Michael Owen was still searching for match fitness after a foot injury in December, before rupturing a cruciate ligament in their final group game against Sweden.

REUTERS MQA RN2332