Capello groups Wilshere with legends

Fabio Capello is banking on Jack Wilshere becoming his flexible friend.

Capello will make a giant leap of faith by handing Wilshere the midfield holding role for England against Denmark in Copenhagen tonight.

He does so despite the fact Arsene Wenger does not view it as his prodigy's best position, nor the one that will get the most from the 19-year-old's talents.

But Capello is undeterred, insisting Wilshere can be his long-term replacement for Owen Hargreaves.

"I know he prefers to go forward but an intelligent player can play anywhere," said Capello.

"I used the example of Claude Makelele before. Andrea Pirlo also started just behind the forward player but ended up playing in front of the back four.

"The thing is, he plays with confidence, never with fear. And other players have confidence in him.

"He is not playing for a team that's trying to stay in the Premier League. It is Arsenal, second in the table. It is incredible for someone so young."

What is also incredible is that Capello, not a man given to hyperbole, opted to bracket Wilshere in the same company as legends of the game, even though he has thus far made just a single substitutes' appearance for his country.

"I know Wilshere is 19 but I remember the best players I managed; Baresi, Maldini, Raul. They all started really young," Capello added.

"It is the same talent. But people have to wait. He is young and needs experience in big games, like the Champions League and matches between the big teams in England."

That Wilshere will start tomorrow was one of the few pointers Capello was prepared to give about his line-up.

It does seem he is ready to spring a surprise by naming Joleon Lescott as John Terry's central defence partner instead of Michael Dawson.

The presence of Joe Hart and Darren Bent was also confirmed, as was England's newly crowned player-of-the-year Ashley Cole.

For Bent it is an acknowledgement of the wider role he has undertaken since his move to Aston Villa last month, the opportunity to partner Wayne Rooney, a man Capello insists has been in good form all season.

"Rooney has had 12 assists," said the Italian, when quizzed about his star striker's relatively meagre tally of three Manchester United goals from open play this term.

"It is because he has played so well and helped such a lot that Dimitar Berbatov has done what he has this year.

"But he scored twice against Aston Villa recently, which is good because a striker always thinks it is important to score."