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Jack Wilshere flourishing in different role for England, says Alan Smith

Goals from midfield will hopefully come, says Sky Sports pundit

Jack Wilshere’s changing role made him the stand-out performer in England’s latest European Qualifiers, says Alan Smith.

The Arsenal midfielder sat in a deeper role for Roy Hodgson’s men in their victories over San Marino and Estonia, and thoroughly impressed as he worked hard with and without the ball.

Although Roy Hodgson’s men laboured to their win in Tallinn on Sunday, former Arsenal and England striker Smith was full of praise for the 22-year-old’s performance.

“I thought Jack Wilshere was outstanding, man of the match,” said the Sky Sports pundit. “He was on Thursday against San Marino.

They’re trying to get him to look beyond that 10 yards that he quite often plays in for Arsenal, where he’s playing little one-twos and going past people.
Alan Smith

“Having spoken to some of the England coaching staff, they’re trying to get him to look beyond that 10 yards that he quite often plays in for Arsenal, where he’s playing little one-twos and going past people.

“But he’s raising his head now and looking for those runs of Wayne Rooney, and they’re on the same wavelength so it’s great for Rooney. For Wilshere, fitness helps and he’s had a run of games for club of country, he’s looking really sharp.”

England secured victory as Rooney’s 73rd-minute free kick steadied the nerves as Hodgson’s men struggled to create enough chances in the final third.

More from Estonia V England

Next up is a home fixture with Slovenia in November and, despite a lack of goals from midfield, Smith says there is plenty to be optimistic about.

“When the forwards are closely shackled, like they were for large periods, you want somebody to pop up from deep, somebody to make those runs into the box the way that – going back in time – Bryan Robson used to do,” he said. “David Platt and the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard always had a goal in them.

“You need that and hopefully that’ll come in time. People like Fabian Delph – he can get into the box. Henderson can score goals, he does so for Liverpool. Lallana, if he plays at the tip of the diamond. So hopefully those lads will develop that knack of popping up.

Battling

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“Of course, the sending off helped – that tipped the balance in our favour,” he added. “I say it never looked in doubt, but you always wonder if that goal is going to come.

“Not the most fluent performance, and we certainly didn’t pass the ball about like we did against San Marino on the wide open space of Wembley, but it was a scuffling, battling performance you’ve sometimes got to do away from home.

“I didn’t think there were too many that hit the heights who could come away saying they played as well as they possibly could, but another good outing for Calum Chambers – we forget he’s only young, but he’s got a great temperament – and another match for the younger boys to use as experience.

“We’re in a comfortable position with a 100 per cent record. We all knew that Switzerland game on the opening day would probably be the toughest.

“There will still be some tough tests to come – Slovenia away and the like, maybe Lithuania on the plastic pitch – but we’ve got a good clutch of young players, Theo Walcott’s still to come back into the squad, Ross Barkley as well, so good choices for Roy Hodgson."

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