Theo Walcott will miss England's World Cup qualifier in Poland

 

England's Theo Walcott has been ruled out of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Poland with a chest injury.

Walcott had to stay in hospital on Friday night after he was poleaxed by San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini in England's 5-0 win.

The winger will return to his club Arsenal for further treatment.

Walcott woe

Theo Walcott has only completed 90 minutes for England twice - both times against Andorra.

"If I described the challenge as reckless I would be being kind. It was a very fierce challenge," said England manager Roy Hodgson.

"I don't believe there was any malice. But it put a dampener on the evening."

Walcott was left struggling to breathe following the clash with Simoncini, which happened in the sixth minute of the match at Wembley.

The 23-year-old did manage to walk off the pitch following extensive treatment, but then needed to be stretchered back to the changing room.

No date has been set for his return by Arsenal, who visit Norwich in their next game on Saturday, 20 October.

Hodgson's team moved to the top of Group H with an efficient, if not spectacular, win against San Marino, and another three points in Warsaw would enhance their chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

England performance against San Marino pleases Wayne Rooney

England struggled to break down their stubborn visitors, ranked 207th in the world, before Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck netted twice in the space of three first-half minutes.

Rooney, Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain added further goals after the break to give a flattering complexion to the scoreline.

Hodgson added: "In normal circumstances the San Marino goalkeeper would have been sent off and we would have gone 1-0 up from a penalty earlier on.

"Had the referee given the penalty and sent the keeper off, which he should have done, we would have scored more goals."