VIDEO: A fresh blend
Tuesday, 08 February, 2011
Capello plans to pair Frank Lampard and Jack Wilshere in midfield.
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England Manager Fabio Capello is looking forward to mixing youth and experience in his midfield tomorrow when he plays teenager Jack Wilshere alongside 32-year-old Frank Lampard.
The Chelsea midfielder will be captaining the side for Wilshere's first start in a Three Lions shirt and the Italian boss is looking forward to seeing the pair combine after being impressed by their form at club level.
"I have monitored him in the last five games he has played, he has improved a lot and I saw him play against Liverpool and he had a really good game," Capello said of Lampard, ahead of his 84th cap.
"I followed him during the game and think he is in good form. He is fresher than the other players."
And of Arsenal's 19-year-old star he said: "I monitored Wilshere for a long time at the start of the season and he played well but was not ready for the Seniors.
"In the last two months, he has improved a lot with his confidence and also the confidence of the other players like Cesc Fabregas and (Andrey) Arshavin when he has the ball."
"The last two months he has improved, he is confident and the other Arsenal players are confident with him. I spoke to Arsene Wenger about the position to play him in on Wednesday and he said he was good going forward and also playing further back."
Darren Bent is also preparing for his first international game since his move from Sunderland to Aston Villa after his form under Gerard Houllier caught the Manager's eye.
"I have watched two games he has played for Aston Villa," added Capello.
"When he was with Sunderland he played a different style because the manager asked him to stay close to the box and be fresh to score goals, but now he runs a lot more, presses a lot because the team play with a different style.
"He played well before but if you want to play with the Seniors at this moment you have to be good when you go forward but also when you have to win the ball back and I think he has improved a lot."