Kenny Dalglish plays down Jack Wilshere praise

Kenny Dalglish has played down the Jack Wilshere comparisons with Paul Gascoigne.

England striker Wayne Rooney recently likened the Arsenal midfielder to the former England international.

However, Dalglish wrote in his column in the The Mirror that such assessments are futile.

"I'm not interested in getting into any comparisons between Wilshere and Paul Gascoigne," he wrote. "Those comparisons are pointless and irrelevant. Everybody has different influences and characteristics. They should be treated as individuals.

"Nobody wants him to be put on a pedestal and then for that pedestal to be kicked away. I would go easy with the praise.

"It is important to put his performance against Brazil into the context of a match that felt like a testimonial."

Wilshere was part of the Arsenal team that beat Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.