After sealing a loan return to Southampton on transfer deadline day, Theo Walcott offered his best wishes to Everton for the rest of the 2020/21 season.
The former England international had found himself increasingly out of the first-team picture during what has been a remarkable start to the season for the Toffees, managing just 12 minutes of action across four Premier League games.
Walcott’s only other outing during 2020/21 was during Everton’s 3-0 win over Salford City in the EFL Cup back in mid-September.
However, Walcott — who has 11 goals in 85 appearances to his name in an Everton shirt — refused to be bitter toward the club or manager Carlo Ancelotti, insisting exciting times are ahead and wishing the Blues the best of luck for the remainder of the campaign.
Walcott told Everton’s official website:
"I feel it just shows in the short amount of time that the manager has been there, [that] he’s been able to put his philosophy into the Club already and bring these players in.There’s no shying away from it, how well Everton are doing, obviously sitting on top of the league, sitting pretty and playing very attractive football as well so it’s very exciting, I feel, for the Evertonians and for the future.I want to wish them all the best. But now I need to focus on my goals and that’s trying to make sure Southampton can climb that table and work really hard but, yes, it’s exciting times.”"
Walcott reiterated his faith in the project Ancelotti is overseeing on Merseyside in a tweet, where he also told fans he would “see them soon”.
It’s been some start to the season @Everton We have a great squad and with Mr Ancelotti in charge I’m sure it’s going to be a great campaign! Wishing the fans, players and staff the best of luck…see you soon! 💙 pic.twitter.com/yuYnZRtcag
— Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) October 5, 2020
The 31-year-old could make his second debut for Southampton during their next match away to Chelsea which comes on October 17th, following the international break.
Will Theo Walcott be a success at Southampton?