Wilshere hits right note in Ljubljana

With a pair of stand-out performances in England's final two fixtures of the 2014-15 season, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere may have belatedly come of age as an international footballer.

The 23-year-old was perhaps the only visiting player to emerge with any credit from England's 0-0 friendly draw with Ireland in Dublin and in Ljubljana on Sunday, he broke his international duck with a stunning double that inspired Roy Hodgson's men to a 3-2 win over Slovenia.

Wilshere has been deployed as the deepest midfielder during England's Euro 2016 qualifying campaign to date, either in a 4-3-3 formation or at the base of a midfield diamond, but Hodgson says that should not preclude him from exerting an influence in the final third.