Wilshere denies youth withdrawal

Jack Wilshere has denied refusing to play for England at the Under-21 European Championship, despite fears his tired body is due an injury.

The Arsenal midfielder was a surprise omission from coach Stuart Pearce’s 23-man squad for the tournament, which begins in Denmark on June 11.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had openly requested Pearce leave out the talented 19-year-old, who has made 55 appearances for club and country this season and has been named in Fabio Capello’s senior squad for a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in June.

Arsenal had become concerned by GPS data collated by their sports science department showing a significant dip in Wilshere’s work-rate over the past month.

The evidence suggested the midfielder was close to burning out and putting himself at risk of an injury.

“When they showed me the stats, it didn’t really sink in at first, but it just kept going down, on a downward spiral,” Wilshere told The Mirror.

“It scared me a bit, made me realise (that) as much as I’m 19 and can keep going and keep going, there’s going to be a time when you’re going to hit the wall.”

Wilshere said he repeated these concerns to Pearce in an ‘awkward’ phone conversation last Thursday, prior to the squad’s announcement on Monday.

However, he is adamant he did not request to be omitted and would have gladly represented his nation had Pearce included him.

“When I said I wanted to play for the Under-21s, I meant that,” he said.

“I wasn’t lying. I wanted to play and I still want to play so that’s why there’s frustration.”

“But I think it’s the best thing. Obviously there’s a risk of injury and missing some of next season if I had gone to Denmark.”

“I’m not saying I would definitely have got injured but I want to be 100 percent. I didn’t want to break down next season or going towards the Euros.”

“I am 19 and I have just got into the England team and there have been players like Steven Gerrard injured so I can keep my place in the England team.”

“And with the Euros coming up, it was in everyone’s best interests for me to rest. I think Stuart Pearce agreed with me. He’s been great about it.”

“Even today, if they had announced that I was in the squad, I would have gone. I would never have pulled myself out and said, ‘I’m not going’.”