Stan Collymore has backed Jack Wilshere to replace Steven Gerrard as England's key midfield player should the Three Lions captain retire from international football.
The Liverpool midfielder stated that he was undecided over his future with Roy Hodgson's men following their group-stage exit from the World Cup.
However, Collymore feels that if Gerrard does decide to call it day then it will be up to Wilshere to stand up and be counted as a star at international level.
He wrote in his column for The Mirror: "For me, Gerrard's international retirement would have to mean Jack Wilshere makes the position his own.
"Is he up to the job? Only time will tell. Wilshere took a bashing from Paul Scholes recently and says he is willing to learn from the criticism.
"There is no doubt that he is a fantastic player with great natural ability but does he have it in him to become the heartbeat of our national side?"
England face Costa Rica in their final World Cup match on Tuesday.
Simon Sinclair
