The England legend has praised Jack Wilshere’s performances for England, easing the tension between the two after Scholes’ comments earlier in the year.
Manchester United Paul Scholes has had plenty to say about Jack Wilshere in the past year…
In March, in the wake of Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Swansea, Scholes told Sky Sports that Wilshere “doesn’t look any better now than he did when he was 17”.
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But after Wilshere impressed in England’s two most recent games Scholes has conceded that he has been impressed by the turnaround in Jack Wilshere’s form, telling the Evening Standard:
“I thought Jack Wilshere had two very good games for England over the last week. I would go one step further than that and say that at the moment he is England’s best player… I think the penny has dropped”.
Wilshere has attributed his improving form this season simply to getting more game-time after years of niggling injury.
His performance in his new role in the England team, at the base of a diamond built to accomodate Sterling, was criticised after the Switzerland game, but has been praised after he ran the show against Estonia and San Marino.
The issue is whether he will be able to perform in that position against top level opposition. It’s all very well sitting deep and spraying passes around when your opponents refuse to leave their half, but its a different story when you’re up against the best teams in the world, who are pressing you all over the pitch.
Even if his form continues to improve, Wilshere just isn’t the kind of player who can anchor a team single-handedly against top opposition. Roy must use the remaining qualifiers to prepare a team which can deal with that level of opponent.