Wilshere committed to under-21 cause

Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere is keen to play for the England under-21 side in their European Championships campaign in Denmark in June.

The 19-year-old made his starting debut for England’s senior side in their 2-0 win over Wales on Saturday in Euro 2012 qualifying, but the midfielder has stated his intentions of playing with the youth side in their bid to go one better than their finalist appearance at the Euro Under-21 Championships in 2009 in Sweden.”This is international football and I want to play in any international football,” Wilshere said.”It’s up to Stuart Pearce (under-21s manager) and Fabio Capello (senior England boss). They will talk and see what’s best for me.”"I always speak to the manager at Arsenal and I will again. I am sure Stuart Pearce and Fabio Capello will talk to him as well.”Capello, however, stepped away from a decision on Wilshere’s national-team duties, stating that it is a matter for club manager Arsene Wenger and Pearce.”This is the decision between Stuart Pearce and Arsene Wenger, ” Capello said. “I heard that a Barcelona player has told his club that he wants to play (for his under-21 side).”"Wilshere is really important for us but I don’t have exclusive rights over him.” “He is playing a lot of games this season and he will be playing in the summer.”Wilshere missed his country’s under-21 friendly with Denmark under-21 on the weekend – which the English side prevailed 4-0 – to be on senior national duty.

Mon 28 March, 2011