TALKING SPORT: Wilshere for England? Yes - but with Lampard and Gerrard

Can Jack Wilshire be the answer to England's woes? Definitely writes Jack Preston.

The baby-faced assassin has proved on countless occasions that he has every physical and mental attribute needed to play in the Premier League. Wilshire has looked impressive this season, a campaign in which he has recorded 27 appearances for Arsenal, netting once, while also keeping the likes of Denilson, Tomas Rosicky and even Abou Diaby out of the starting XI in the process.

That trio can have absolutely no complaints at being replaced - the simple answer is that they’ve been making way for one of the hottest young talents in the game.

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Despite an impressive loan spell at Bolton last season, captivating the excitement of every red-blooded Gooner and England fan in the country, as well as Owen Coyle - Wilshire failed to make the cut to travel to South Africa for the World Cup. What if we’d had Jack Wilshire? Could he have united Gerrard and Lampard? Could we have ... gone all the way?

We would have scored more goals. Yes, he could have united Gerrard and Lampard, a mean feat that anyone is yet to achieve. But the form and general state that Wayne Rooney and co were in were always going to deny us any hope of lifting the trophy.

Wilshire has won two England caps since then under Fabio Capello, first against Hungary, then Denmark. The 19-year-old stole the headlines when he became one of the select few players who had managed to accomplish the art of converting how they play for their respective clubs over to their country.

There’s just nobody else like him. His vision, his passing and movement, but, above all, his tenacity, an ability to run at anyone and everyone, is exciting.

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Since the World Cup, Lampard and Gerrard have found themselves on the fringes of the England set-up, having been replaced by younger blood. But would it be worth a go playing Wilshire along-side the pair? What’s the worst that can happen?

* Do you agree with Jack Preston? Email your comments to [email protected]

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