He may not have kicked a ball in the World Cup, but according to his grandad Theo Walcott could have saved England.

Joe Walcott OBE, the former mayor of Carterton, and grandfather of footballing 'wonderkid' Theo, was among millions who watched England lose after an agonising penalty shoot-out with Portugal on Saturday.

The 79-year-old from Carterton admitted he was disappointed his grandson didn't get any pitch time, but said he'd prove himself in the World Cup in 2010.

"It's a pity he didn't get a chance to play," Mr Walcott told the Oxford Mail yesterday. "I am no expert on football, but I think he would have been able to put a couple of goals in on Saturday, particularly in the last 10 minutes of extra time, when there were plenty of chances.

"Even so, it is marvellous he was picked to go to the World Cup as part of the England squad.

"I think everyone was pleased he was selected and it has been a big feather in his cap that the England coach gave him this chance."

Seventeen-year-old striker Theo took the football world by storm by being selected for the England World Cup squad, before he had even played a game in the Premiership.

Mr Walcott was backed up by Oxford United manager Jim Smith, who said if he'd been in Sven-Goran Eriksson's place, he would have put him on the pitch.

"It was a great experience for him to go, but I can't see the point of picking the lad and then not putting him on," said Mr Smith.

"Why select him if he had no intention of letting him play?

"Fair enough, he probably wasn't going to start a match, but there were one or two opportunities when he could have come on and even scored.

"If I'd have picked him, I'd have played him."

Asked what Theo's next move should be, Mr Smith said: "He's got to get his feet on the ground and get playing for Arsenal."

Mr Walcott, meanwhile, is looking forward to seeing his grandson, but stressed: "I have 10 grandchildren and I am very proud of all of them. They are all doing well in different things."

Asked whether he thought Theo would be disappointed not to have played, he said: "I wouldn't like to comment on his behalf, because I have not talked to him yet. But I think he will have just been pleased to have such an experience.

"Even though he did not play, he has been there, with the big boys, and it has been a tremendous experience like being in the best academy in the world. And in four years, there will be another World Cup."