Manuel Pellegrini has no doubts that Manchester City's James Milner can shine at the World Cup for England in place of the injured Theo Walcott.

Arsenal and the Three Lions were rocked by the news on Monday that the 24-year-old has been ruled out for the next six months with knee ligament damage, meaning that he will miss the remainder of the Gunners' campaign and the World Cup finals in Brazil this summer.

"I can't tell [England manager] Roy Hodgson which are the best choices if he cannot play Walcott, but Milner is a very useful player," Pellegrini told the media.

"I trust a lot in him, I think he is a very good player."

Pellegrini also feels that he did England a favour by dropping Joe Hart at the club earlier this season.