Jack Wilshere is convinced his return to Arsenal’s Premier League side can propel him back into the reckoning for Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
England manager Southgate has not capped Wilshere during his reign, indeed the Arsenal midfielder has not featured for the Three Lions since the 2-1 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016.
Southgate has insisted he will not consider players who are not regulars in their club sides and last month went as far as to question whether Arsene Wenger was deploying Wilshere in his best position.
However an injury to Aaron Ramsey has handed Wilshere an opportunity in Wenger’s Premier League XI, where he has started the last two league games alongside Granit Xhaka in the Arsenal engine room.
Wilshere has another three months before England’s next games to prove his worth to Southgate and he hopes he can catch his eye with Arsenal.
“I think I have proved to myself that I can play in the Premier League, I trust my body again and I am onfident going into games that I can affect them,” Wilshere told Sky Sports News.
“That is all I can do, I can have a positive effect on this team and then we will see if the England manager picks me.”
Speaking on Talksport Wilshere echoed Southgate’s comments that his best position was in a deeper role, rather than the advanced position that Wenger has previously said is his best spot.
“In terms of my best position, I like playing in the middle, I like playing the 10, playing a little deeper.
“I’m not really a big fan of playing out wide but in the formation we were playing – the 3-4-3 – he gave me licence to roam inside.
“If I have to pick one position it’d be a little bit deeper in midfield.”
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An England recall is not the only issue facing Wilshere in the coming weeks, with talks due to start imminently over an extension to the 25-year-old’s Arsenal contract, which expires at the end of the season.
After three years of injury hell Wilshere appears to finally be on the mend and has featured in 15 games across all competitions this season.
Should an offer not materialise from Arsenal West Ham stand ready to whisk Wilshere away but the playmaker has reaffirmed his desire to stay at the Emirates.
“This is where I want to be, this is where I see myself in the future,” he said. “Whether I will be and whether things sort themselves out then we will see in the next couple of weeks I suppose but I definitely want to be here.
“I am enjoying my football and am playing in the Premier League now and I want to help Arsenal get to where it should be. I think the biggest thing for any footballer, even more so for me because of the injuries and the games I've missed in the past, is that you are playing.
“Apart from that, there are a few small things to sort out but as long as I am playing I am happy, I have missed too much football and I just want to be playing, really.
“I'm in a good place mentally at the minute, I want to continue that and improving on my form, affecting the team, having a positive impact on the team and helping the team try and get into the top four and challenge for trophies.”