Premier League - Walcott undergoes shoulder surgery
Eurosport - Fri, 21 Nov 08:57:00 2008
Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott has undergone surgery on his dislocated right shoulder and will not return until at least February.
Walcott suffered the injury on England duty ahead of the friendly win against Germany and is expected to be out for at least three months.
The 19-year-old has struggled with injuries in both shoulders since joining in Arsenal in 2006. He missed several months after having his left shoulder pinned in 2007, and damaged it again in a recent Premier League game against Stoke.
Arsenal are increasingly worried about the winger's hereditary weakness, and manager Arsene Wenger is concerned that he has become a target for strong challenges from opponents.
Wenger has questioned the timing of the clash in Berlin but refused to blame the FA for the training-ground accident, and is yet to decide whether the club will pursue compensation.
"I'm disappointed because he is an important part of the squad, but that could have happened in training here," Wenger said.
"It was an accident that could have happened anywhere.
"I do not blame the FA for that. It was accidental in training and I accept that.
"In a moment like that you do not think about compensation you think about how you can replace the player."
The FA confirmed that they would be prepared to pay compensation as they insure all national team players to the tune of £100,000 per week in lost wages.
Walcott was taken to hospital in agony after suffering the dislocation in a freak accident as he fell in the rain at the Olympic Stadium.
Although Walcott's shoulder was quickly put back into place, the player was in discomfort when he returned to England's team hotel, where an assessment was made over his return to London.
"We are all very disappointed but the important thing is for Theo to travel home and make a quick recovery," England manager Fabio Capello said on Tuesday.
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Comment 1 - 10 of 30
Gazfox, post 7. It seems your knowledge of injuries is matched by your knowledge of football you @#$% Moron
I cant believe he got injured for England.. BOO!
Theo Walcot is a player I admire so much for his wonderful move on the field, it's so painful, nonetheless I wish him a quick recovery bcos 3 months is too much. God will work out a miracle for him.
what a @#$%.... any self respecting rugby player would just laugh at him.... before propping the scrum! Football @#$%, all of em
Just unfortunate at the end of the day, but Internations increase the risk, the more you play the more chance of getting injured - a football fact of life. Hope he recovers fully.
I am NOT an ARSE Nil supporter but I wish the lad a fast recovery because he is a tallent and England will need him
to comment 1 as Wenger himself said this could have happened at an Arsenal training session the problem is a reccurring one with Theo
Thank goodness footballers dont run with their arms.
Iwish Theo a quick recovery cos he is a kid you will always love to see on the pitch
Yet again a club now has to pay a fortune in wages for a player who will be unavailable for months, and all because of a meaningless international friendly. The England team that played, plus all of the substitutions will likely prove to look nothing like the team that eventually plays the next competitive match, so what was the point? Club managers' disdain for these games is entirely understandable
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