Arsenal manager believes that the 16-year-old midfield prodigy could play a part for England in the 2010 World Cup finals

Arsène Wenger is not a manager to jump the gun. He mostly takes the long-term view, always considering the bigger picture. He does, though, have a sense of mischief and, perhaps in that frame of mind yesterday, he suggested that Jack Wilshere, the 16-year-old Arsenal prodigy, could play a part for England in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Wenger believed that Theo Walcott, at 17 and without a top-flight appearance to his name, could possibly play for England in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. Sven-

Göran Eriksson, the head coach at the time, took the hint, including Walcott in his squad, but he cut a peripheral figure, did not feature in any England match and returned home to continue his education.

Wenger believes that Wilshere, who impressed in the 3-0 victory against Wigan Athletic in the Carling Cup fourth round on Tuesday but will not play against Aston Villa today, could follow a similar path. Age is on his side, too. “In 2010, Jack will be 18,” Wenger said. “Theo was 17 and had never played a single Premier League game and had not grown like Wilshere has now.

“Wilshere now will come in and

out of the team, he'll play in the Champions League and the championship. We have to assess that situation in two years. So let him develop and play and, when he is ready, he will play [for England]. You can never rule out the possibility.”

Born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Wilshere's languid manner in midfield and left-footed preference have drawn comparisons to Liam Brady, the former Arsenal and Ireland idol who is the club's head of youth development. He can expect a quick step up from the England Under-17 squad to the under-21s for their friendly in Norway on March 27.

“I believe the FA have decided the first step for him is to move him up to the under-21s and see how he deals with that,” Wenger said. “I don't know if they [the FA] have made the definite decision about Wilshere and the under-21s but they are considering it. Then the pressure starts.”

As with Walcott and Cesc Fàbregas, the Spaniard, Wenger will monitor Wilshere's progress closely. “I think he will make it here,” Wenger said. “The evolution of a boy is the mental aspect as well. From now to 18 or 19, we will see how he copes with that.

“I think we did the right thing with Theo. Until they are 19, you are not to consider them as a regular. The exception we have had is Cesc, but he had a very mature game.”