Leo's London: England should avoid Jack Wilshere gamble

05 August 2010 10:25
Jack Wilshere is undoubtedly a very talented midfielder who has the potential to go to the very top.[LNB]But if the 18-year-old is going to make a contribution to England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign he will have to be playing regularly in the Premier League, and it is hard to see that happening at Arsenal.[LNB]Cesc Fabregas looks like he will be made to stay at The Emirates so Wilshere is facing the role of a bit part player in the league.[LNB] Bright hopes: Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been heralded as the future of English football[LNB]Wenger has said he will be used by Arsenal this season, but that is not a  commitment to rely on the teenager or put great responsibility on his shoulders.[LNB]No matter how much Wilshere's loan spell at Bolton last season improved him, he is still callow and slight.[LNB]He made his Premier League debut for Arsenal two years ago but Wenger knows a  thing or two about bringing youngsters through. The Frenchman has has been and  will be patient - and he wants fans and observers to follow suit.[LNB]Fabio Capello taking a gamble on Wilshere as a key player now would be folly.[LNB]One for the future: Wonderkid Wilshere is not ready for England duty yet[LNB]The England manager is not a fool (however bad his performance at the World Cup  was) and can see the Arsenal teenager's potential.[LNB]But mentioning Wilshere and including him the squad for a friendly is very different to starting him in important matches.[LNB]The fact is the Italian has seldom used a playmaker of the Arsenal player's style anyway.[LNB]That is why Joe Cole has grown frustrated with England - and we really should not expect too much of, or for Wilshere just yet.[LNB]When Wenger was asked last weekend whether it was too early for his player to get the call from Capello, he said no.[LNB]But he also compared that hypothetical situation with Theo Walcott making the  World Cup squad four years ago, and who can forget what a farce that was? [LNB]The winger then was little more than a glorified tourist among the England squad and the WAGS.[LNB]Wenger said it 'didn't kill him' and, similarly, Capello selecting Wilshere for next week's unpopular England friendly against Hungary should do no damage either.[LNB]But it will not make him the country's kingpin or establish him in the squad for the serious games either.[LNB] Anyone who saw the way James Tomkins' confidence was shattered when West Ham slumped to a dismal defeat against Wolves at Upton Park in March will be interested to hear that he is back and may be starting to reinvent himself.[LNB]Learning curve: Young West Ham defender James Tomkins[LNB]In that game, the defender produced a passback howler which allowed Wolves to open the scoring. He never recovered and was withdrawn at half-time.[LNB]West Ham chairman David Sullivan then launched a public attack on the team for their 'shambolic' performance the next day which was enough to send the centre back into hiding.[LNB]Tomkins played no further part in the team's narrow escape fromrelegation and, injured or not, withdrawing the player who was justabout to have his 21st birthday, was the only sensible choice.[LNB]Sohis impressive return at right-back in a couple of pre-season gamesunder new West Ham manager Avram Grant is a welcome surprise.[LNB]Itmay be little more than an experiment, but if it gets a young Englishplayer with potential back on the right track, it is well worth a go.[LNB]  Mohamed Fayed seemed a little upset at the way Roy Hodgson dumped his club,  Fulham, for Liverpool this summer.[LNB]But the club chairman should not bet on successor Mark Hughes acting any differently if he gets a more glamorous opportunity in a year or two.[LNB]Hodgson did well for Fulham and then moved to a club with greater expectations.[LNB]Hughes could easily do the same. He is a good, stable manager who can deliver at their level, as his time at Blackburn proved.[LNB] Head strong: Mark Hughes is a sensible appointment by Fulham but owner Mohamed Al Fayed (R) may find it difficult to hold onto him someday[LNB]Compared to the other options considered by Fulham after ex-Spurs boss Martin Jol was ruled out, such as Sven Goran Eriksson, Hughes was a sensible choice.[LNB]But that does not stop him from being highly ambitious. The former Wales boss worked hard to earn the chance for a shot at glory with Manchester City and feels he has something to prove at the top of the Premier League after being axed last December.[LNB]For all their achievements and reputation-repairing potential, Fulham will not give him the opportunity to do that.[LNB]  Sign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsOut of the England frame: James axed in Fabio Capello's chop of the flopsFace it Cesc: Arsenal demand Fabregas pledge of loyalty to fansRamires to join Chelsea in £18m deal after Benfica allow Brazilian midfielder to leave [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail