Walcott Relishing United Striker Chance

England striker Theo Walcott is relishing the opportunity to play alongside Wayne Rooney is the lead up to Wednesday's friendly against Brazil.

With both Daniel Sturridge and Jermain Defoe out injured, Walcott is a contender to partner Rooney is attack.

Walcott has scored a career-best 11 Premier League goals this season for Arsenal and is hoping to build on his club career with his country.

"It was great to train there alongside Wayne," he said.

"And with Daniel Sturridge and Jermain Defoe unfortunately injured there is maybe an opportunity there for me."

"Things are going well for Arsenal at the moment," he added. "The next step is to build my England career a bit more.

"At the age of 23 with 30 caps it's not bad but I want to get into the starting line-up. I need to get in the manager's face during training and I need to do well.

"So for me the goal is to get the England career back to where it should be.

"If that happens Wednesday then fantastic, or if it's in the qualifiers in March then great. Given the opportunity I'm going to give it my best.

"I'm playing well at the moment and I'm with some great players here who are only going to make me a better player as well."

Having signing a new contract in January, Walcott is liable to prove pivotal in Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, a race they current sit four points behind Tottenham Hotspur in.

The 23 year old's opportunity in the England team on Wednesday may come virtue of Sturridge pulling out of the squad to face the five-time world champions with a thigh injury, while Defoe has an ankle problem picked up in Tottenham's win over West Bromwich Albion.

"He rolled his ankle," manager Andre Villas-Boas said. "He will have to have a scan to reveal the extent of the injury.

"Hopefully, there is not a lot of ligament damage. If there is, he could be out for two to three weeks."

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is also absent with a hip injury. Illness and injury means Phil Jones, Raheem Sterling, Nathaniel Clyne and Ryan Bennett have all withdrawn from the Under-21 side due to face Sweden.