'Wilshere is the player every team is looking for' - Hodgson delighted at midfielder's England return

11 Nov 2012 14:30:00

The national boss praises the Arsenal youngster after naming him in his squad for the friendly against Sweden next Wednesday, suggesting that he is key to the team's progression

England manager Roy Hodgson has described Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere as "the type of player that all teams are looking for" after the 20-year-old returned to the national squad for the first time since his long injury lay-off.

The youngster recently made his comeback to the Gunners team after missing over 14 months of football due to various problems with his right ankle.

The playmaker is nearing full fitness, having now made two starts in the Premier League, and Hodgson believes that Wilshere is exactly the type of player that England require in order to progress to the next level.

"It's good to see [Wilshere] back and he is, in my opinion, the type of midfield player that all the teams are looking for today - a lot of energy, a lot of ability with the ball, capable of running with the ball, very tenacious in his play, and has got the necessary pace," he told reporters.

The 65-year-old feels that one of the biggest challenges facing England will be their ability to match other nations' athleticism and technique in midfield as they move away from a more direct style of play.

"One thing that becomes more and more obvious is that, the higher the level you play, the more pace, athleticism and mobility plays a part," he continued.

"You take all the top teams today in the world, and they're all going down the route of pace, technique, mobility, as opposed to routes that may have been successful in the past, not least for teams like Sweden and England."

Wilshere was sent off against Manchester United during Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to the league leaders on November 3, with his lack of match fitness seen by some as the reason for his eventual dismissal.

And, while Arsene Wenger and Hodgson have high hopes for Wilshere for club and country respectively, the national boss promised to use the midfielder sparingly so as not to cause any more setbacks.

"It won't be a question of him starting the game and playing 90 minutes, which might be a bit much for him at international level at this moment," he added.

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