image: telegraph.co.uk

With Rooney on crutches for the foreseeable future Sven is looking to North London for that special something. Not a new lady friend (he should be fully focused, he's naming a provisional squad at 2 p.m. today), but a creative force. A player who can do something unpredictable. Rumour has it that Sven could take either Tottenham's Aaron Lennon or Arsenal's Theo Walcott. Or even both.

Lennon has the stronger case. At 19, he's two years older than Walcott and has Premiership experience. He's also put in some impressive performances out wide for Spurs, and Sven was there to see Lennon's well taken second half goal against Bolton recently. But the the bespectacled Swede has also been watching Theo Walcott in training recently, suggesting he's considered the 17 year old Arsenal (Reserves) player as a possibility.

Walcott would be the more similar replacement to Rooney, as he could conceivably play up front as well as out wide. But it seems a bit of a stretch to ask a lad who's yet to make his Arsenal debut to play in a World Cup. Having said that, it's just as much of a stretch asking Jermaine Jenas or Owen Hargreaves to play in the World Cup, and Walcott could at leat get some experience in the friendly games. My prediction is that Walcott won't go to the World Cup, but wil be wearing an England shirt in the upcoming B international.

All will be (partially) revealed later today when Sven names his provisional squad.