Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is short of form and confidence and will not play any part for England at the World Cup.

That is the view of Three Lions legend and former Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce.

Wilshere was seen as the future kingpin of England’s midfield after bursting on to the international scene in 2011, aged just 18, but he has been blighted by injury problems.

He is back fit after missing the last two months of the Premier League season and featured in the warm-up games against Ecuador and Honduras.

According to Pearce, however, the 22-year-old is not the player of old and will not be trusted by Roy Hodgson at the World Cup.

Speaking on the Colin Murray show, Pearce said: “I think there are five players that will not kick a ball at the World Cup. Forster and Foster are the obvious ones and I think Shaw, Smalling and Wilshere will be the others.

“I think he [Wilshere] is very, very short of form. Watching the last game [against Honduras] I didn’t see a Wilshere that sprung on the scene many months ago.

“I just think he is very, very short of confidence and I see Lampard, Lallana or Barkley ahead of him now.

“I just feel his lack of form really [will cost him] and that will be on Roy’s mind. He had a very disappointing last game and he has not shown me the fully fit Wilshere we saw when he came on the scene.”