Jack Wilshere’s fitness problems could cost him a place in England’s World Cup squad, Gareth Southgate said last night.

The Arsenal midfield player has not travelled to the Netherlands for tonight’s friendly international against Holland after aggravating a knee injury in training yesterday and is a doubt for Tuesday’s game against Italy at Wembley, England’s final fixture before the manager names his 23-man squad for the tournament in Russia.

Wilshere’s fitness will be assessed by the FA’s medical staff when England return to their Hertfordshire headquarters tomorrow, but Southgate is conscious that the player is running out of time to make a case for World Cup selection. Wilshere, 26, has not played for England since the humiliating defeat by Iceland at the 2016 European Championship.