10th Feb 2011 | Football
Jack Lifts England
William Hill reckon Jack Wilshere has a good chance of starting the Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales.
It’s a rare England friendly when players leave with their reputations enhanced but that is what happened in Copenhagen.
Fans can rejoice for England now have a player that can control and pass the ball, a novelty that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the journalists of the land. Even the circumspect Capello got in on the act, happy to mention teenage Wilshere in the same breath as legends such as “Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Raul - these players started really young too. It’s the talent.” I presume he hasn’t heard of Jermain Pennant then.
The bookmakers have got carried away too. William Hill have Jack Wilshere at 5/2 to start against Wales on the 26th March - a price that probably won’t have Gerrard & Co. rushing to the high street to back it.
The other ‘villains’ turned heroes were goal scorers Darren Bent and Ashley Young who both seemingly did enough to restart their stuttering England careers. Darren Bent is 8/11 to start against Wales and Ashley Young 5/1, both prices from William Hill.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 11:13 10th Feb, 2011 but subject to change
