Jack Wilshere's diamond days and lessons from Alonso

Saturday 11 Oct 2014
Jack Wilshere has 23 caps for England

Jack Wilshere says he is enjoying his new role as a deeper-lying midfielder for England and has been learning from some of the best in the world.

In the Three Lions' opening two European Qualifiers against Switzerland and San Marino, the Arsenal man has played at the base of the diamond as Roy Hodgson's men have collected six points.

And the 22-year-old revealed that he has been watching clips of some of Europe's top midfielders as he continues to learn the new position.

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"I've been watching Xabi Alonso recently, his passing is ridiculous," said Wilshere.

"Playing in that role it's important that you understand that if you lose the ball the opposition get it in a dangerous position. So watching players like that you learn how intelligent they are, how they use the ball, when to dribble, when to pass.

"But I enjoy playing that role, I enjoy starting attacks and getting on the ball."

Wilshere continued: "I learned a lot form Cesc [Fabregas], he was someone who had been in my position playing regularly from 16, which was even younger than me.

"San Marino was my second game in that role, and I'm still learning and improving. There is a lot more to come in that position but the more I watch players like that, the quicker I'll learn."

Wilshere was just 18 when he made his England debut in 2010 and during his time wearing the Three Lions he has also gained experience playing alongside Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling

Jack Wilshere with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling

Following their international retirements this summer, Wilshere has started to assume more responsibility in Roy Hodgson's young squad and is keen to forget about the past.

He believes that with fresh faces being given the opportunity to play for their country, they will only flourish and hopefully with it will come success.

"Lampard and Gerrard were fantastic for England and I always looked up to them, so to play with them was a dream come true," said Wilshere. 

"But now they've moved on and we're proving every game that as young players there is no better place to learn. There is a lot more to come.

"There are a lot of players who have come through the Under-21s together and we now playing in the seniors together, so it's quite nice. 

"We know each other really well, we're good friends off the pitch, we're a similar age and have similar interests. 

"It's a really good group here and we've worked on that team spirit and you can see it on the pitch, whether we win or lose we always stick together." 

He added: "We're not worried about England's past record, we just want to do what we can do. We'll take every game as it comes, we're on a good run at the moment and want to continue that from the Switzerland game."

"There is a space for us to come in and write some history for ourselves. We are young and eager and we want to win something for England, we want to get through this qualification, go to the Euros and really do something."

By Jamie Bradbury FA Editor in Tallinn