Is it Too Early to Get Excited About Jack Wilshere?

He’s only 17, and so far he’s only made one Premier League appearance for Arsenal. But I’m already hoping that Jack Wilshere makes the England squad for World Cup 2010. Is that wrong?

Maybe. But I can’t help feeling optimistic. It’s not just because he’s young, English and talented. It’s also because he seems to have a bit of flair about him, and an eye for a pass. And – maybe most importantly – a left foot.

Can you remember the last time we had a quality creative midfielder with a left foot? It was probably John Barnes.

And while before we just had a couple of grainy videos of Wilshere scoring sweet goals for Arsenal’s reserves, now we have him scoring a brace against Rangers…

…and – most impressively – extended highlights of the young lad dominating a game against Atletico Madrid:

OK, it was only a friendly (the Emirates Cup) but Fabio Capello seems almost as excited as I am:

“He surprised me when I saw him at the Emirates Cup. I saw him a few times last year in the League Cup and this year he has improved a lot,” Capello said. “He has a big personality with the ball, he scores goals, he plays without fear and he has big confidence.

“His teammates pass the ball always to him. That is because they are confident in him. This is not normal for a player who is so young.”

“We have time to look at him and have months to decide if he will go to South Africa. It will depend a lot on whether he plays for Arsenal,” Capello said. “He’s in the squad for the under-20s and will go with them to Egypt in the world championships and that will be very important.”

And today Wilshere has been promoted from the Under-20s to Stuart Pearce’s England U-21 squad as a replacement for injured Fabrice Muamba. The U-21s play the Netherlands in Groningen tomorrow, where Wilshere may get a chance to impress again.

Of course, there’s a whole season between now and the naming of the World Cup 2010 squad. And, as Capello said, it all depends on if and how much Wilshere plays for Arsenal in that time. But right now it all looks very possible and very exciting.