The 22-year-old is at St. George’s Park with Roy Hodgson’s squad as they prepare to face Peru in their final home match before departing for Miami next week – where face Ecuador and Honduras.

Wilshere, who returned to the Arsenal side at the end of the domestic season and helped them to win The FA Cup, is now looking forward to stepping-up preparations for Brazil.

ENGLAND v PERU International friendly

8pm, Friday 30 May 2014,

Wembley Stadium connected by EE,

Live on ITV





“I’m at the stage now where I need games,” said Wilshere. “I’ve been training for six weeks, and I had the last 30 minutes at Norwich and the last 15 at Wembley, so I’m feeling good.

“I think it’s not just the games, in training as well we have really stepped it up. Last week was about getting fitter and getting the week off out of our systems, and now we start the real football with the couple of games coming up.”

When quizzed about his emotions at suffering such cruel luck with injuries, he added: “It does frustrate me, but I tend to look forward - I’ve got the World Cup in front of me now.

“If someone had told me four years ago I’d be going to a World Cup I’d have been happy. Hopefully I can contribute in the future and this World Cup.”

Wilshere, along with players like Ross Barkley and Jordan Henderson, have injected a youthful feel into the squad, but the midfielder, capped 15 times, says they will still be looking to the team’s more experienced members for advice.

“Ross Barkley, Frank Lampard, there is a lot of good players within this squad. There is a lot of young players and experience. The young players, like me and Barkley and Henderson will be looking for helping from the Gerrards and Lampards.”

He continued: “It is good. A lot of people have been calling for this for a long time having seen the likes of Germany do it, and now we are doing it. I know they are young, but they are good players, playing in the Premier League 30/40 times a season, and they have done well and been the better players within their teams. I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do.

Wilshere wrapped up at England training

“All of them have got great talent, that is why they are here, and they are here on merit. They’ve worked hard this season and now they have to prove themselves at international level. They are here on merit, they have great talent, and hopefully they can show that.”

And for one so young, Wilshere certainly has a wise head on his shoulders as he refused to be drawn on his expectations for the showpiece.

He added: “We just want to make the country proud. We’ve been through a lot of World Cups, like the fans at home, and we want to do them proud.

“We are not going to go into the tournament and say ‘We are happy with the semis’ or ‘We are going to win it’, people have their own opinions, but we just want to make the country proud.”

He did admit, however, that the start the Three Lions make in the humid surroundings of Manaus in the group opener against Italy on Saturday 14 June will be vital.

“In any tournament, you do not want to start badly,” he said. “Italy is an experienced team, but it is going to be the same conditions for them, and they are a European team too.

“Ok, they have got experienced players who have been there and done it, but it is going to be the same for them. We have to keep the ball, conserve our energy, and hopefully we can win the game.

“Last week in Portugal the first training session was tough. They all said it would get easier, and it is getting a little more comfortable when we are meant to be feeling uncomfortable, so hopefully when we get over there we will be fully prepared.”

England meet Peru at Wembley on Friday 30 May - their final game on home soil before the World Cup. The last few tickets remain, so to make sure you don't miss out, click here to buy your tickets online.



