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Fabio Capello has claimed Jack Wilshere is the most exciting young midfielder he has ever seen and thinks he will one day captain his country.

Wilshere will be handed a midfield role in next week’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales at the Millennium Stadium, despite just one England start and only two caps to his name and Capello spoke of his faith in the 19-year-old.

“I remember two defenders, Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, and one attacker, Raul, who was 19 at Real Madrid, but for personality and confidence on the pitch, he is the best young midfielder I have seen for his age,” said Capello. ”He will be England captain one day. He needs more caps but he is a real leader.”

By his own admission, Capello was uncertain whether Wilshere was ready when he handed the teenager a seven-minute debut against Hungary in August. However, in last month’s friendly against Denmark and Arsenal’s recent two-legged Champions League encounter with Barcelona, Wilshere proved beyond any doubt he is the real deal.

”It is incredible,” admitted Capello. ”In this last seven months, he improved a lot. After that very first game I was not sure because he didn’t play with a lot of confidence and following the Denmark game, some people were surprised when I said I was really happy with his performance.

”But he played with confidence and without fear. He tried to do the same things he usually does when he plays for Arsenal. And everyone can understand his value after the games against Barcelona.

”I followed him. I monitored him during the game in Barcelona. Against the most difficult team, one of the best teams of all, he played the same game, with the same confidence that he did in the first leg in London. Then Arsenal won. The second time it was more difficult.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is surprised that Capello has not called upon in-form duo Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan.

Pardew told the Evening Chronicle: “I’m certainly surprised Kevin has never been involved because of what he is. The problem with England is they are always thinking of building a team, and I absolutely disagree with that. For me, it’s about picking your best 11 players.

“If that’s the case, Kevin and Joey deserved to be involved. There’s nothing to build with the England national team. Every game is massive, including the next one, and you have got to play your best team. On that basis, I’m surprised Kevin and Joey haven’t been involved.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson has told his Manchester United side to step up their performance levels or forget about winning the treble this season.

Ferguson has kept United on course to repeat their famous feat of 1999 by maintaining their run in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup so far but, with Marseille the latest to test the Red Devils’ title resolve, the manager believes that his players need to up their game.

“The team needs to step up a level,” he told the Daily Mirror. ”It’s an important time, being involved in three tournaments. The key is to have everyone available. It would be nice to get that.

“It doesn’t matter how many players you have had injured in the past, the important thing is to have them all available for the run-in. If we have that, then it will increase our chances of success.”

Marseille travel to Old Trafford on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League tie, currently poised at 0-0, and Ferguson’s focus is fully trained on his side’s performance.

“They need to perform if they want to win the Premier League and stay on course for the Treble,” the Scott added. “We’re experienced enough to do what we’re doing at the moment, which is taking each game as it comes. The focus is on Marseille at the moment. They’re a good team.

“With these European games at Old Trafford on a midweek night, there’s a terrific atmosphere and that does help us. ¬Hopefully it’s that way again and we get the result we want.”

Having lost three out of five Premier League games, including mentally destructive defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool, Ferguson thinks the side are now back on the road to recovery after overcoming Arsenal in the FA Cup.

“The question when you lose a game is always how you recover,” he said. “I think Saturday’s performance was our recovery. Marseille is a different type of match but we are going to have to get to a good level to win.”

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