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England national football team
International Friendlies
Feb 6, 2013 at 7.30pm UK
 
Brazil national football team

2-1

Roy Hodgson plays down Jack Wilshere expectation

Hodgson plays down Wilshere hype
© PA Photos
Roy Hodgson says that Jack Wilshere does not need to be put under extra pressure to be the star man for England.

England manager Roy Hodgson has insisted that Jack Wilshere should not be put under too much pressure to become an instant hit on the international stage.

The Arsenal midfielder has been in impressive form this season, since returning from over a year out of the game with injury in October.

The 20-year-old is likely to make his first start for the Three Lions since the Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland in June 2011, and Hodgson is adamant that expectations should not be unrealistically high.

"Jack is a player who carries a huge weight of responsibility at a young age," said Hodgson. "I hope everyone is going to understand he is still a young man, he is 21 and still capable of playing in the Under-21s, not that he will.

"I'm anxious in some ways and, while delighted with his form and the way he plays and sharing everyone's enthusiasm about his quality, I want to play it down a bit too. I wouldn't like to see him have to take a backward step because all of a sudden his name is being put forward as the saviour of the English football team. We've got other players too.

"I'm hoping Jack's contribution, which will be a big contribution, will be matched by big contributions by the other players like Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Johnson etc."

England host Brazil at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.

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