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England: Steven Gerrard excited by Jack Wilshere's potential

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments613

Steven Gerrard (l) and Jack Wilshere

England captain Steven Gerrard has said Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has the "potential to become one of the best in the world".

The 21-year-old is expected to make his first England start for 17 months in the friendly with Brazil at Wembley.

"He can tick almost every box, and he's going to get better and better. He'll get better than he is now which is a scary thought," said Gerrard.

But the skipper warned: "One man can't carry a nation on his own."

Wilshere made his international debut just under two and a half years ago, but will win only his seventh cap if he features against Brazil on Wednesday night.

The midfielder, who returned to the Arsenal first team last October after 15 months out injured, has played just 324 minutes of international football and only 13 of them in the company of Gerrard.

Gerrard, however, hoped the youngster would "bring out the best in all of us".

"Jack has got a bit of everything," said the 32-year-old Liverpool midfielder. "He can tackle, get up and down the pitch, create a goal, score a goal, he can pass.

"I think he's got the potential to become one of the best in the world and I don't want to add any pressure. That's unfair.

"But playing against him recently and in training, he's a one-off. He's a lot better than your normal Premier League midfielder. I have a lot of confidence in him.

"He's a top player and I hope he gives the dressing room a lift. We need competition for places if we're going to get to Brazil."

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613 comments

  • Comment posted by cjc92, at 11:33 6 Feb 2013

    The only way in which Cleverley should be compared to Iniesta is that they have similar haircuts.

  • Comment posted by OGG, at 09:17 6 Feb 2013

    It's nice to see that players can appreciate each other's abilities, and put rivalries aside for England.

  • Comment posted by James_AFC, at 12:24 6 Feb 2013

    It is embarrassing to see so many scraping the barrel for reasons Wilshere is not good. It shows a lack of football knowledge, sums up your character and personality and stinks of jealousy. For those who support England, lets be thankful we have a player of his quality.

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 11:26 6 Feb 2013

    As a Liverpool fan of many years I would like to add my name to those remembering the horrific events in Munich 55 years ago.

    May they all Rest in Peace

  • Comment posted by Lee Churm, at 12:25 6 Feb 2013

    I think some of the comments on here just typify the idiocy of some people. JW is a really, really good player. Make no mistake about that. You won't find a coach in the Premier League that will disagree or elsewhere for that matter. Injury prone? He had one big injury, he's not injured every other week. Some question his technical ability!?!?! Are you real??? I'm very pleased he's English.

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 12:48 6 Feb 2013

    @204 and others who say the same sort of thing. - Please note that if someone does not agree with you in every way and would not pick the exact same team as you. This does not mean they "know nothing about football" it means they have a different opinion to you. Ferguson and Wenger have chosen different players to play for their teams, however, they both still know a bit about football.

  • Comment posted by rashyno1, at 10:25 6 Feb 2013

    I thought Cleverly was supposed to be Englands great hope for the future. If I am to believe what I have read in previous comments sections he is going to be better than Zidane....

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 16:02 6 Feb 2013

    @421 I get so angry and embarrased when fellow Liverpool supporters refer to Manchester United supporters like that.

    Why on earth does supporting a different team to someone else make you scum?

  • Comment posted by Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end, at 11:39 6 Feb 2013

    @134 et al - Agreed. You would like to hope that on this topic club rivalries could be put to one side and I hope the anniversay is respected by all.

    May all the victims rest in peace.

  • Comment posted by bored23, at 16:08 6 Feb 2013

    427.bilbo

    Exactly, from both sides to be honest I have no idea what ppl think they get out of calling other clubs fans 'scum'

    Football rivalry is great but some people seriously need to grow up!

  • Comment posted by Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end, at 14:39 6 Feb 2013

    So to summarise:

    So depending on which club you support Wilshere is the next messiah and Cleverley is bobbins or Cleverley is the son of god and Wilshire is bobbins.

    Is there any chance that the truth actaully lies someone between the two.

    How about we just support our country and forget all this playground squablling for a bit.

  • Comment posted by Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end, at 15:18 6 Feb 2013

    @367 Statistics - I hate how much we use statistics these days. I mean Hendo has 3 goal and Clev has 4 can we really read that much into that. For example player A puts a brilliant cross into the box but striker misses a tap-in he doesn't get an assist. Player B shanks a cross and someone blazes it in from 20 yards and he does. Next day someone will tell you player B is better than player A.

  • Comment posted by smudger666, at 15:06 6 Feb 2013

    @ 357

    No he cant, he said the same thing yesterday, or someone else did, possibly DJGLR..... Heres that answer:

    This Season: Tom Clev 23 Apps 4 goals. Jordan Hend 29 Apps 3 goals

    Overall Career: Tom Clev 113 Apps 20 goals. Jordan Hend 169 Apps 11 goals.

    I didnt get a response from him yesterday when I posted the same stats....

  • Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 15:02 6 Feb 2013

    359.Eduard_Streltsov_Ghost

    @353 My posts are 100% expertly written & objective. Most Utd fans appreciate my knowledgeable analysis.
    ___________________________________

    It's a pity nobody else does :P

  • Comment posted by Bjorntorekvarme-leg-end, at 15:06 6 Feb 2013

    @362 Occassionally we are all prone to bias towards our club, but the complete lack of disrespect for other peoples opinions on here is just unbelievable. I can't think the most outrageous posters on here actually believe what they say, and I don't really understand what enjoyment can be gained from entering into arguments where both parties are just aiming to be more sensational than the last.

  • Comment posted by Stowman, at 15:45 6 Feb 2013

    404 smudger
    Not aimed at you, no. I realised the context.

    You specifically didn't read anything into the numbers (other than mentioning that you couldn't read anything into them) as far as I could see

    Correcting errors as per you in 367 = fine.

  • Comment posted by Alan, at 12:37 6 Feb 2013

    As a Spurs fan it really grieves me to say it but here goes. Wilshere is good........ but not great yet. He's still work in progress but the signs are there. Any comparisons with the likes of Fabregas, Iniesta or anyone else of that ilk are way too premature. Pity he's such an annoying little **** though.

  • Comment posted by User0531990326, at 15:50 6 Feb 2013

    406. ESG - ur post at 391 clearly says"...Spurs only had a realistic chance of scoring when SAF brought cleverley off".

    As Utd were 1-0 up, that counts as an error by Fergie - if ur esteemed analysis is correct. So 399 is correct to state u r implying an error by SAF! This must count as blasphemy!!

    Or else, ur analysis is poop - which we all know already (inc. other Utd fans)

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 10:40 6 Feb 2013

    @76 - What was the point of your comment? This is a thread about Wiltshire and his potential. Don't turn this thread into another pointless slagging match where the (utd, l'pool, arsenal) fools just repeats themselves. Cole, york et al have nothing to do with it.

    Do you think this statement from Gerrard helps Wiltshire (as a confidence booster) or do you think it adds unneeded pressure?

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 15:44 6 Feb 2013

    @ Stowman, backing Smudger up here as he is getting this abuse because he backed me up when I asked the poster (below) to prove his comment:

    355. Reinasbaldhead

    "@351 - I would have Hendo too as he has more assists and goals than Cleverley"
    Reinasbaldhead

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