Martin Swain on England's final squad

Poor Theo Walcott. Four years ago, he was in when he should have been out and now he's out when he might have been in.

Walcott's omission, which for many should have applied to Shaun Wright-Phillips instead, must have been a tight call for coach Fabio Capello but one he was forced to make once Joe Cole had pressed his claims to take up that floating 'striker come wideman' vacancy.

Villa's Stephen Warnock has not so much played himself into the 23-man squad as seen Leighton Baines talk himself out of it, but goes to South Africa with as slim a chance of playing as the third-choice goalkeeper - whoever Capello decides that to be.

But, once Gareth Barry had got enough ticks in the boxes of his fitness check chart to merit inclusion, the boss' choices go to the players most of the nation would have selected.

Scott Parker and Tom Huddlestone didn't do enough while for Adam Johnson, it was all a bit too much too soon. Only the most blessed of Premier League teams would not welcome Darren Bent joining them, but the Sunderland striker simply does not look international class.

Wright-Phillips gets the nod because he at least knows what he is - a winger - and can deliver from wide positions.

Walcott continues to look like a player falling down between two stools and his exclusion will force him to re-examine the wisdom of a move to such a powerful Premier League club, which has ending up depriving him of regular first team football.