Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere has convinced England Under 21 coach Stuart Pearce that he is now fully focused on football after his recent arrest for alleged assault, and is in line for a possible starting berth in the team for their crucial European Championship qualifier against Lithuania in Colchester.
Pearce insisted that the teenager will still need to prove himself to get into the team but has now judged that the emerging Gunners star is in a better shape now mentally to be involved in the game at some stage.
The 18-year-old was also in the squad for the England Under 21’s game against Portugal last Friday in which Daniel Sturridge scored the winning goal, but did not come off the bench as Pearce found him unfocused before the game after spending much time on the phone with his agent trying to deal with the recent headline making events.
Wilshere was arrested after being involved in a fight in Kensington which the young star was reportedly acting in the capacity of a peacemaker.
Pearce is most concerned about the team as a whole as England need to win to have a chance of progressing and is demanding that all his players are concentrating fully on the game ahead.
“I have seen a touch more focus (in Wilshere),” Pearce said. “Going into the Portugal game, he was swapping phone calls with his agent and one or two other people in regards to newspaper articles. Since then, we think his focus has been much better.
“It is difficult for a young man but the team is much more important than the individual.”
Tags: Arsenal, England, England Under 21, English Premier League, European Championship, Jack Wilshere, Lithuania, Stuart Pearce
