Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he was surprised to hear that Jack Wilshere had been called up by the England U21 squad, just weeks after making his international debut for the senior side in a friendly against Hungary.
The teenager was part of Fabio Capello’s last Three Lions squad but will be left out of the party to face Bulgaria and Switzerland in Euro 2012 qualifying after being demoted back to the U21 side.
Speaking to the Guardian, Wenger revealed his surprise and admitted he thought the decision was down to fierce competition for places in the England midfield.
"I'm surprised that he's not in the full England team but if Capello wanted to select him then not play him, maybe it's better he plays in the Under-21s,” he said.
"For me, he has done well. But England have many midfielders now. [Frank] Lampard, [Steven] Gerrard, [Gareth] Barry, [James] Milner and they try to recall [Paul] Scholes.
"It was a little surprise because he [Capello] had brought him on and maybe would even have started him in the friendly, so he must have had a good impression of him.
“What is happening to him [Wilshere] is fantastic. He is the only player who has been selected in England from his generation at the age of 18. That's a sign of trust from Capello."
The Frenchman, who also left Wilshere out of his side to face Blackburn Rovers today, also insisted that the midfielder would not be too disappointed at the news.
"That is part of the job being a footballer," he added. "You have to deal with not only the positive but the disappointments as well.
"Jack [Wilshere] is such a strong personality he can deal with that. He is 18, he is very young so you can understand he still needs some experience in the Under-21s.
"Maybe this week he will be a bit down, but I trust him because I play him in the big games. I played him at Liverpool and I played him against Blackpool."
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