England boss Gareth Southgate opens door for Jack Wilshere to return for World Cup
JACK WILSHERE has declared he is the fittest he has ever been after being offered a lifeline by England boss Gareth Southgate
The Arsenal midfielder was not called up for the qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania this month.
But after Friday's dull 1-0 win at Wembley, Southgate is trying to add spark to his engine room and refused to rule out a Wilshere recall.
He said: "We're in a position where there's no way we would dismiss any creative player.
"But people have to be playing and have to be playing at a good level."
Wilshere has not been called up for England since the games against Scotland and Spain last November.
But after a series of midfield injuries, the 32-cap Gunners star is not far from a recall.
The 25-year old is yet to feature in a Premier League game this season but impressed against BATE Borisov.
However, with Manchester City benhwarmer Fabian Delph and struggling Liverpool new boy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain making the cut, Wilshere will fancy his chances.
He told Arsenal.com: "I always hear the boss say it is my first five-metre burst, when I receive the ball and to get away from defenders and I feel that’s getting better and better each day.
“I feel like the way to improve that is in games when you’re playing against opposition that want to win and want to win the ball back and you have to be able to keep the ball.
"That’s coming back and my fitness levels, if I’m honest, are probably the best they’ve ever been. I look at my numbers after the game and I’ve been out for four months and I’m not the one who hasn’t run the most.
"Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t run the most, we’ve got a lot of players that do that, but my numbers are good so I’m happy."
Southgate has been urged to call up Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey by former international Chris Waddle.
SunSport exclusively revealed the Toon ace fractured his hand trying to break up an amazing training-ground scrap as he tries to rediscover his form.
He jumped in when captain Jamaal Lascelles and Mo Diame traded punches at the club’s Darsley Park centre.
And Shelvey, who has just returned from a ban after a red card against Tottenham on the opening weekend of the season, now has his left hand in a cast.
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