Capello gives Walcott chance to let his actions speak louder than words

In his book, Theo: Growing Up Fast, the Arsenal winger claimed he “never knew what was required of me” in the build-up to the World Cup in 2010.

He also labelled Capello as “starchy”, “cold and clinical” and recalled one training-ground incident which led to the Italian “screaming” at him for doing something wrong.

Having been a surprise omission from Capello’s squad for South Africa but quickly battling his way back into the coach’s plans, airing such opinions might not have been viewed as the wisest thing to do.

Capello was said to have been unimpressed and told Walcott when they met during Arsenal’s trip to face Udinese last month that he preferred him as a football player rather than a writer.

However, he showed there was no hard feelings by not only selecting the Arsenal winger in his squad for the current Euro 2012 qualifiers, but naming him in the starting line-up for Friday’s 3-0 win in Bulgaria.

“I didn’t have a clear-the-air meeting with the manager,” said Walcott.

“I saw him in Italy. We had a laugh and a joke about it. He said he preferred me as a footballer rather than a writer and laughed it off. He was great but I never thought it was going to be a problem anyway.

“He has been great to me. There are no hard feelings.”

In fact, Walcott had already noted a softening in Capello’s approach, the England coach having recognised the ultra-focused preparations he adopted in South Africa did not work.

“I don’t find him intimidating at all,” he said. “He is a very dedicated manager. He is very professional but he is more relaxed now. He has given the freedom to players.”

Capello has never given the impression of having favourites.

However, any suggestion the more experienced members of his squad regard themselves as untouchable was dismised by Frank Lampard’s omission in Sofia as Gareth Barry and Scott Parker were paired together in central midfield.

With Chris Smalling handed his debut at right-back and Manchester United team-mate Phil Jones pushing hard to make a similar breakthrough, an evolution is under way.

“Frank is a great player and has been throughout the years,” said Walcott. “But it is the manager’s decision. There is so much competition for places now. You really need to be on your toes because if you are not playing well, the manager won’t pick you.

“There is certainly no such thing as a guaranteed start.

“But we are all professional. There is no sulking if you are on the bench – you just want to prove the manager wrong.

“That is how you get the best out of players.”

Walcott’s presence in a pacy three-man reinforcement of lone striker Wayne Rooney helped England pose Bulgaria repeated problems they did not have a hope of answering on Friday.

It is hard to see Wales finding the right answers at Wembley tomorrow despite the improvement they showed in beating Montenegro 2-1.

“We tend to play that formation at Arsenal as well – interchanging throughout the whole front three.” said Walcott.

“The more you move around, the harder you make it for the people you are playing against. It gives defenders headaches and then you have won the battle.”

Rooney seems to like it too, which Walcott concedes gives England a major lift. “Having Wayne on the pitch seems to get an extra percentage out of everyone else,” he said. “He creates so much space for everyone else.

“He is scoring with his head now as well and hopefully he will continue to do that because he is an absolute threat.”

Bolton central defender Gary Cahill marked his first competitive start for his country by netting the first goal against Bulgaria.

Cahill’s desire to play European football, and with it develop as a player, was thwarted when possible moves to either Arsenal or Tottenham failed to materialise before the transfer window closed.

But he is keeping his fingers crossed he has shown Capello that he has the quality to be at the forefront of his plans.

Cahill said: “I’d like to think I can establish myself as an England player. It (the Bulgaria game) was a great end to a sticky week so I was pleased with that and I was pleased with how it went.

“From the manager’s point of view, hopefully he knows he can rely on me to start or come on and play. I hope I proved that. “

Cahill will face Norwich striker Steve Morison who has impressed since making the step up to the Barclays Premier League.

Morison grabbed the opening goal as Wales picked up the first points of their Euro 2012 qualification campaign against Montenegro. That victory was Wales’s first over a top-20 nation since 2002.

Morison, 28, said: “To be honest I believe in my ability at whatever team I’ve played with or against.

“If you don’t have apprehension and anxiety that night before a game thinking ‘am I going to be good enough?’ then you will never be good enough.”