Former England winger John Barnes says the way Theo Walcott's career stuttered after the 2006 World Cup highlights the importance of keeping the pressure off Liverpool teenager Raheem Sterling.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to select Walcott eight years ago shocked the football world, given the 17-year-old had not made a single first-team appearance for Arsenal.

It was a tough experience that the winger - who misses this summer's tournament with a knee injury - has only started to recover from.

Barnes says England should bear Walcott's struggles in mind when it comes to 19-year-old Sterling, despite his fine campaign.

The former Liverpool star has warned against heaping pressure on his fellow Jamaican, insisting he should be utilised with hope rather than expectation.

"We can't put too much pressure on him. We did that with Theo Walcott when he was 17 and he went to the World Cup. Then he took many years to find his feet," he said.

"We should look to the older players and say these are the reason why we are going to do well in a World Cup, and if the young players come on and do well it's a bonus.

"If young players have a lot of pressure on them going into a tournament and they don't do well, that can affect them.

"He has had a good last few months of the season. I expect him to go to the World Cup and do well but if he does, it will only be a bonus."

Sterling is one of several exciting young players in Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad, who are currently at a pre-tournament training camp in Portugal.

But Barnes warned: "Getting out of the group will be difficult. Uruguay are favourites to win it."