Hodgson wrong to promise Wilshere a spot in World Cup squad

As is customary ahead of a major tournament involving England, one of their more revered squad members faces a race to be fit in time for the summer’s World Cup festivities in Brazil.

Or, at least they would be had Roy Hodgson not promised Jack Wilshere a place in his 23-man crew to take on the world whether he plays for Arsenal again this season or not.

The diminutive midfielder hasn’t been seen in Gunners red since injuring a foot while on national duty against Denmark in March, but despite a return to training hasn’t been rushed back into match action by Arsene Wenger.

That doesn’t concern Hodgson, who is sticking to his guns over naming a squad based on performances over the last two years of qualification and refusing to spring too many surprises.

Including Wilshere, who is 1/5 to be make the touring party, despite a lack of recent game time is a costly error from the England boss though, especially when other players have shone in the time the Arsenal man has been absent.

Jordan Henderson has been a vital cog in Liverpool’s Premier League title chase yet is a longer price to make Hodgson’s squad, at 1/4, than Wilshere.

Ross Barkley, while not enjoying as much consistency as his Merseyside rival, is a precocious talent that future England tournament sides could be built around, but is in danger of missing out on the World Cup squad at Wilshere’s expense.

Even Hodgson’s own argument about picking players based on qualification exploits is flawed, considering the Arsenal marauder only started two games in that entire process.

Wilshere doesn’t have strong club form to fall back on either having registered just three goals and four assists in the Premier League from his 19 starts this term.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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