Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho has claimed that he would have played Theo Walcott in the Blues' first-team by now, had the teenager signed for Chelsea rather than Arsenal in January.

The 17-year-old, who was a surprise inclusion in Sven Goran Eriksson’s England's World Cup squad, opted to join Arsenal from Southampton rather than Premiership champions Chelsea.

Since his January move to The Gunners, Walcott has yet to play a single minute in the Premiership, but still, was recommended to Eriksson by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Mourinho has insisted that if Walcott had chosen Chelsea, he would be going to Germany with at least some first-team experience under his belt.

"At Arsenal Walcott has played zero minutes but at Chelsea he would have played against Blackburn and Newcastle," he declared.

"I would have played him against those teams like I did with Lassana Diarra. That is for sure."

Mourinho refused to comment on Eriksson's surprising squad selections, saying: "I am never surprised with other manager's options. They can think the same about me.

"This is a country with a lot of players and a lot of options so I am never surprised. Eriksson has made his choice and he is responsible for that.

"At the end of the World Cup if things go well he is a hero and he will get the good or the bad consequences of his choices and I am nobody to be critical."

One player not travelling to the World Cup is Shaun Wright-Phillips, but Mourinho feels he can overcome the disappointment and blossom into a top Chelsea player.

"I believe he will establish himself here but it is more important what he believes."

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