Source: SKY_Sports
Pearce - Wilshere will prosper
England U21 boss Stuart Pearce is backing Jack Wilshere to flourish during European Championship qualification.
The Arsenal starlet has already been tipped for the top, having broken into the Gunners' first team set-up while still in his teens.
At 17 years old he is far from the finished article, but the potential he has displayed so far suggests he is destined for great things.
Pearce certainly thinks so, and the Young Lions coach is tipping Wilshere to make a similar impact for club and country as his Arsenal team-mate Theo Walcott did upon bursting onto the scene as a precociously gifted youngster.
"One player gets singled out of my squad, normally a very young one," said Pearce, ahead of the U21s starting their qualification campaign in Macedonia on Friday and Greece four days later.
"It was Theo, Theo, Theo all the time. What we said then was 'give Theo time to mature'.
"The same will happen to Jack. He's got to try to win a place in this Under-21 team at the moment - and he's got to try to win a place in Arsenal's team at the moment.
"That will happen in time, there is no doubt about that because the boy has some fantastic talent.
"Time will tell and his ability will come to the fore. In that time I'll make sure I protect him as much as I can.
"He'll come through in his own good time. There is no point in me lauding him up and talking about senior football at the moment.
"The first port of call is getting in your club side. He is at a very good club side. On top of that he needs to get in the U21 side and perform there. From there, who knows?"
