Understudies play leading role in Walcott's absence

England’s back-up players took the opportunity to shine last night against Germany but I can’t help think that, long term, the most significant action to take place on the pitch at the Olympic Stadium actually occurred 24 hours earlier.

Theo Walcott’s slip on the turf in training on Tuesday evening resulted in a dislocated shoulder and, while he may well be fit for England’s next competitive game against Ukraine in April, it must raise serious concerns over the durability of joint that has constantly troubled the young winger in his short career.

He has a history of operations to his shoulder and played through the pain it cause him during a disappointing first season at Arsenal.

Let’s hope when Walcott returns the injury is completely recovered, as a player of his breed being held back by the slightest niggle results in a completely different footballer.

We have all seen how cumulative injuries caused Michael Owen, another player to star on the international stage at a young age, to lose his sharpness and it would be a great shame if Walcott suffered the same fate.

The timing of the injury blow could not be worse as the former Southampton man had just established himself as a key component of both the Arsenal and England first teams and was fulfilling his long recognised potential.

In Walcott’s absence though, it was a chance for others to shine and an experimental England team produced plenty of positives for Fabio Capello.

The likes of Michael Carrick, Stewart Downing, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Matthew Upson all seized the chance created by the withdrawal of more established names.

During his last two title winning seasons with Manchester United, particularly during the 2006-7 campaign, Sir Alex Ferguson was always quick to stress that his squad players were just as crucial to his side’s success as the big stars.

In their own way, he said, the likes of John O’Shea, Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-Sung were just as vital to the United cause as the Wayne Rooneys, Cristiano Ronaldos and Rio Ferdinands.

What Ferguson was saying was that over the season you will have injuries and it is important that the players who come in are committed and adaptable so the team functions just as well in the absence of first choice players.

All Ferguson’s favourite squad players are also noticeably genuine team players whose work ethic rubs off on others when they play and keeps them looking over their shoulders for fear of losing their place.

This is now Capello’s chance to create a back up team of talented committed players are capable of slotting in the side in big games to cover for injuries or even - sending a warning to Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney et al – if a first team player suffers a loss of form.

The fact is England will have injuries and suspensions in big games and you simply cannot predict what positions will be effected, the safe answer is to make sure you have a reliable back up to cover for every position.

The performances of the understudies last night would have taught Capello a lot about his options and, while the cupboard may seem relatively well stocked, there may still be one or two positions - such as goalkeeper – that he will want to look at again in future friendlies.