THE skeleton of a monk who suffered the same knee injury which put an end to Theo Walcott’s hopes of attending the World Cup has gone on display at York’s Barley Hall this weekend.

It is part of a World Cup tribute display which started today.

The skeleton, recovered by the York archaeological Trust in the mid 1980s, belongs to a monk who had an identical cruciate ligament injury to Walcott and dates back to the 13th or 14th century.

It was found at the site of the medieval Gilbertine Priory, which is now occupied by the York Novotel.

References to Gilberdine Monks playing football mean the trust think he may even have suffered the knee injury in a similar way to the England and Arsenal footballer.

However, the injury would certainly have ended this hobby as Jorvik group director of attractions, Sarah Maly, said evidence showed he walked with a crutch and there are signs of chronic infection to the knee.