The England manager Fabio Capello has suggested that the Liverpool striker Andy Carroll is not fit enough to start in Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff.

Carroll has started Liverpool's two games as he continues his comeback from a thigh injury and Capello feels he has not yet recovered the form which prompted Liverpool to spend £35m on the 22-year-old on the final day of the transfer window

"I have monitored Andy Carroll in the games that he has played and I went to see him personally," Capello explained. "He is not at the level that he played before he got injured, he is not fit to play for 90 minutes."

In a press conference which was dominated by the captaincy situation, Capello also praised the improvement shown by the Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is set to make his first competitive start for England in Cardiff, saying he was surprised at the forward strides made by the 19-year-old.

"He is a young player who has improved a lot in a short time," Capello said. "He was an interesting player, when he played his first game with us he was good, but young.

"Now he is playing like a player who has played a lot of games, like a 28 or 29-year-old. He plays the game fantastically with personality and without fear. It's not easy to find players like him who play without fear in places like the Nou Camp. I spoke with Arsène [Wenger] and he told him he was also surprised by how he had improved so much in so short a time."

When asked whether Wilshere in the years ahead could emulate his Arsenal team-mate Aaron Ramsey, who will captain Wales for the first time tomorrow, Capello said: "It will not be my problem. But I think he is a really good player, to be a captain you need to be a leader and I think Wilshere will be captain in a really short time."

Capello said he was wary of Wales, despite Gary Speed's side having lost their three Group G qualifiers to date. "I think this derby game is very different to the others we will play," he said.

"In derby games as a player and as a manager it was not always the best team who won. I think this is a dangerous game to play as the spirit of the Welsh is fantastic."