Arsenal and England midfielder makes long-awaited first-team return
England received a massive boost on Saturday as Jack Wilshere made his return to first-team action for Arsenal.
Wilshere, capped five times for the senior team, has been sidelined for over a year with ankle problems but Roy Hodgson's Three Lions were buoyed by his return - and he inspired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over struggling QPR.
England face Sweden in a friendly in Stockholm next month and Wilshere's return is timely.
A delighted Arsene Wenger, echoing the sentiments of England fans across the land, said: "You could see technically he is there and overall I think he gave absolutely everything.
"Overall, if you consider how long he was out it was quite positive. He will get up to the level with more games."
Wilshere, who completed 33 out of 33 passes in the first half in a lively display, said: "It's great to get some minutes.
"I am back now and want to push on. QPR are a good team and they are unlucky to be where they are. The experienced players at Arsenal helped me through it.
"The boss spoke to me this morning and said to see how I felt after 60 minutes. I need to keep working hard in training to the level I know I can get to.
"The Arsenal fans have always been great to me and hopefully they can be great to me in the future. It was amazing to be back - words cannot describe it. I was just running around smiling.
"Last time I played it was with Fabregas and Nasri - now it's with Arteta and Cazorla who are great players too. It's like a new team and I'm like a new player."
Andy Carroll, another England international to recently return from injury, could do nothing as his West Ham side went down to a 2-1 defeat to Wigan at the DW Stadium.
John Ruddy, who has been on the fringes of the England team and would have gone to Euro 2012 if he had not broken his finger, was largely untroubled as Norwich claimed a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.
Ruddy was beaten by Christian Benteke but a Villa side lacking in confidence could not really trouble the England stopper and Michael Turner's goal for Norwich salvaged a draw.
Villa midfielder Fabian Delph, who has represented England U19s and Under-21s, impressed in flashes, while another Under-21 starlet Joe Bennett saw red for Paul Lambert's side in the second half.
Elsewhere, Hodgson's No.1 Joe Hart made two important saves, both from Michu, to claim only Manchester City's second clean sheet of the season.
City prevailed 1-0 but were indebted to Hart, who denied Michu in either half with smart stops.