Walcott saluted as new English wonderkid

British media saluted Theo Walcott yesterday after his hat-trick in England's 4-1 demolition of Croatia in a World Cup qualifier in Zagreb.

Walcott, who was thrust into the spotlight in 2006 when former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson surprisingly included him in the squad for the World Cup finals, finally delivered the goods on Wednesday with three clinical finishes.

The 19-year-old Arsenal striker has been a peripheral figure for his club since his shock inclusion in the World Cup squad but became the talk of a nation on Wednesday when he repaid manager Fabio Capello's faith to the full.

"Boy Wonder" was the Daily Mail's back page headline while The Sun proclaimed "Trio Walcott".

The Independent said Walcott had come of age two years later than scheduled and the teenager also received congratulations from Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Many papers awarded him 10 out 10 in their player ratings while others compared his impact to that of a teenaged Michael Owen when he burst on the scene in the 1998 World Cup finals.

Walcott's club manager Arsene Wenger said he had always known he was a fantastic player but that the teenager still had some way to go before he reached his peak.

"One game is one game, a career is something different, it is consistency. I am convinced it is in him, but let it get out and give him time," he said.