England boss Roy Hodgson believes Theo Walcott must prove himself at Arsenal and change the thoughts of his critics.
The 26-year-old returned from a long injury lay-off in November but a groin injury and poor form has seen his season further disrupted, seeing him make just five starts in all competitions.
Despite a poor season, the former Southampton youngster has been included in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and friendly with Italy.
However, Hodgson has discussed Walcott’s inclusion, saying that he must improve his domestic form before being considered as a starter for his country.
“That’s the thing about football, isn’t it? If you’re not careful, there’s always someone behind you waiting to take your place,” said the England boss.
“It’s a dog-eat-dog world. Every time, sometimes through no fault of your own, you can be injured. But then, suddenly, your position, which had looked very secure, suddenly six months down the line, is not so secure.
“Crossroads is probably quite a tough term. I don’t want to be quoted saying he’s at a crossroads. But it is an important few months for him.
“He’s got to satisfy a few of his critics and, if you like, make certain that a) he stays fit and b) gets his place back as one of the first names on the Arsenal team sheet. When he does that, he might be pushing to be a first name on the England team sheet.”