Wilshere backing Rooney & Sturridge to fire England to the World Cup

The Arsenal midfielder says the duo will be “massive” for the Three Lions and also hails the impact Rickie Lambert, Danny Welbeck and Jermain Defoe have made in the squad

Jack Wilshere is backing England’s strikers to fire the Three Lions to World Cup 2014 as they prepare for the final two group games against Montenegro and Poland.

Roy Hodgson’s men currently top Group H by a point and know that two victories will see them qualify for next summer’s competition.

And Wilshere believes the Three Lions’ in-form strikers, particularly Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge, could prove the difference in the two games at Wembley.

“We have got Sturridge and Rooney back which is going to be massive for us as you want your best players available,” he told reporters.

“Rickie Lambert has done a great job. He scored a couple and did well in Ukraine which was a difficult place to go and be up there on your own and do the job he did, he did really well.

“We have got Defoe as well who can score from any position and Danny Welbeck who is looking sharp. We have got a good mix there and it can only be helpful for us.”

The Arsenal midfielder also feels the vast international experience of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard may prove crucial to Hodgson’s men.

“As a young footballer I have grown up watching those two and you can learn things from both of them,” he added.

“The way Steven Gerrard passes the ball, his range of passing and how he puts his foot in and the way Lampard gets forward and his goalscoring record speaks for itself so I can learn from both of them.”

First up are Montenegro on Friday, who lie just a point behind England, and Wilshere has urged his side to concentrate as they prepare to face Branko Brnovic’s side.

“We need to focus. We will look at Montenegro and look at their strengths,” he continued.

“It’s nice to be unbeaten but we can still be unbeaten and not go to the World Cup.

“We don’t want that. We have got two big games ahead of us and that’s the way we’ve got to look at it.”

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