The Times says the 18-year-old has attracted interest from several Barclays Premier League clubs, with Sven-Goran Eriksson still hopeful of luring him to Manchester City, but the fact that Rafael Benitez was willing to place his faith in a player of such limited experience as he attempts to rescue Liverpool's faltering season will come as a surprise.

Benitez has admired Walcott for some time and was one of many managers scrambling for his signature when he left Southampton two years ago, only to balk at his £12 million fee. The Spaniard had hoped to use him on the right wing for the remainder of the season, but Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, is adamant that he will not be allowed out on loan.