Gary Neville believes Jack Wilshere is the best English midfielder at the moment, and calls the Arsenal playmaker a “must” for the national team.

Wilshere’s fine form for Arsenal this hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Gary Neville, who worked as a coach for England under Roy Hodgson, rates the 26-year-old very highly and believes he’s the best option England have at the moment.

“He’s the best English midfield player by a street,” Neville said, as reported by the Daily Star.

“I worked with all of the English midfield players for four years and he could play in any single team in this country and live in that team or any single team in Europe, he is that good. He has a great attitude, he trains well and he has got fantastic ability.”

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COLOGNE, GERMANY – NOVEMBER 23: Jack Wilshere of Arsenal in action during the UEFA Europa League group H match between 1. FC Koeln and Arsenal FC at RheinEnergieStadion on November 23, 2017 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

England have lacked technical quality in midfield for some time. Despite this rather significant problem, Gareth Southgate decided not to call Wilshere up to his England squad. Neville feels that the midfielder is a necessity for England at the World Cup this summer.

“He takes the ball on the half-turn and he’s the only English central midfield player [like that]. Dele Alli yes and Ross Barkley yes, but I class them as being more forwards.

“I’ve worked with him and I’ve got no allegiance to Jack Wilshere or Arsenal Football Club and this is a fantastic player and talent, who is a must for England if he is fit and playing well.”

Wilshere came into this season injured and with his future up in the air. With his contract due to expire in the summer, he had no guarantee of a place in the Arsenal first-team.

The midfielder played his way into form during Arsenal’s cup matches, and convinced Arsene Wenger to give him another chance in the Premier League.

Aaron Ramsey’s injury gave him the opportunity to start again, and he hasn’t looked back.

At the rate he’s going, it’d be madness for Southgate not to include Wilshere in his next England squad.