Source: Team_Talk
Pearce praise for willing Wilshere
Stuart Pearce says Jack Wilshere is fully focused on football again - but cannot guarantee him a place in the England Under-21 side on Tuesday.[LNB] Wilshere was left on the bench in Portugal for the 1-0 win on Friday, with Pearce suggesting the 18-year-old had "taken his eye off the ball" after he was arrested and bailed in the wake of a late-night fracas in Kensington.[LNB]Pearce, though, maintains the young midfielder - who made his senior international debut as a late substitute in last month's friendly against Hungary at Wembley - is now back on his game.[LNB]However, the former England defender insisted there were no guarantees in terms of team selection at Colchester's Weston Homes Community Stadium, for a match his youngsters must win to stand any chance of making the play-offs.[LNB]"Jack has been exactly the same as all the other players who weren't involved in Portugal - fantastic. His attitude has been very good," said Pearce ahead of Tuesday night's crucial European Championship qualifier against Lithuania.[LNB]"I have seen a touch more focus.[LNB]"Leading into the Portugal game, he was swapping phone calls with his agent and one to two other people in regards to newspaper articles which were going on.[LNB]"We just did not feel it was right to start him in Portugal.[LNB]"Since then, we think his focus has been much better.[LNB]"It is difficult for a young man, there are a lot of pressures on young players at the best of times.[LNB]"It is my job to read those situations as best I can."[LNB]Pearce continued: "I will let them all know what the team is tomorrow and there will be seven or so who are not in the starting line-up who will be disappointed.[LNB]"But one thing I can guarantee and it has happened for three years now, they will support the players in the team and when their chance does come, they will take it."[LNB]Former Nottingham Forest left-back Pearce feels managers have to be more than just coaches.[LNB]"There has never been any difference in football - managers have to be available all the time for the players," he said.[LNB]"At times, managers have to be sympathetic, they have to be stern at times and make tough decisions.[LNB]"The players' wellbeing is vitally important.[LNB]"But as long as there is a fairness in the players eyes about what we are trying to achieve collectively - the team is much more important than the individual, that has been, and always will be the case."[LNB]England manager Fabio Capello has a somewhat similar issue over star striker Wayne Rooney, who has been the subject of intense tabloid scrutiny ahead of tomorrow's Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland.[LNB]Rooney has travelled with the rest of the squad to Basle, but it remains to be seen whether the Manchester United forward starts at St Jakob Park.[LNB]"Fabio will judge that, and he has been in the game a long, long time," said Pearce, who works closely with the Italian.[LNB]"One thing you do know is you have to make sure individual players have got a focus and it will not detract from their performance.[LNB]"If in your own mind it is clear that will be the case, you select the likes of Wayne Rooney, who is an outstanding talent.[LNB]"If you feel it won't and someone else is pushing for a place, then you put them in."
