Theo Walcott proves his England quality ..

There is a persuasive argument to say that Theo Walcott, rather like the Titanic, should never have left Southampton.

In the two years since Walcott gave up Championship football at St Mary's, he has started just 26 competitive matches and risked trading life as a fast-growing fish in a small pond for that of a minnow within the reservoir of talent at Arsenal.

His potential, though, has still been enough to catch the eye of England manager Fabio Capello and last night, on his first return to Southampton, he produced a reminder of why the Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, was prepared to pay £12 million for his talents.

True, the England Under-21 team were already leading the Republic of Ireland by two goals, but the way Walcott opened his body and side-footed the ball beyond goalkeeper Darren Randolph was still rather reminiscent of his idol, Thierry Henry.

It also sealed a 3-0 win which enhanced England's position at the top of the European Championship Group Three qualifying table, and virtually guaranteed their place in a play-off match to reach the finals in Sweden next year. A point in the final game against Portugal would guarantee winning the group. "We feel this will get us there," manager Stuart Pearce said.

Walcott has played in all seven qualifiers for Pearce and, although this was his first goal in this campaign, the challenge now is to compliment his place in the Under-21 team with regular football at Arsenal. Walcott said: "I don't pay any attention [to criticism]. The only ones I listen to are my family and friends. I just get on with my football and try and perform in every game."

Capello's right-hand man, Franco Baldini, was at St Mary's and introduced himself to the players. "Straight away, they know there is a link there to the seniors - there will be a few performances worth a recommendation," Pearce said.

Against a limited Irish team, the theory was that Aaron Lennon and James Milner would offer support from the wide positions. In practice, it took England time to find any real cutting edge, with many of the best first-half moments originating from Lennon's right wing. There was a greater sense of urgency after the interval and the goals all arrived within an 18-minute period.

In the 60th minute, Milner, who was winning his 36th under-21 cap, shaped to cross and his ball glanced off Ireland defender Stephen O'Halloran and into the net. There was less luck about England's second as Milner collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired a precise shot beyond Randolph.

It was then left for Walcott to apply the finishing touch to a highly satisfactory night for both Pearce and Capello.