Jack Wilshere embraces unfamiliar role for England

Energy: Jack Wilshere impressed for England at Celtic Park

The pass was luscious, enticing and fabulous in its wonderful entirety. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, his Arsenal colleague, had already made his move, an opportunistic dart in between Scotland's two centre-halves, Russell Martin and Grant Hanley, and Jack Wilshere found him artfully. The pass was curved and angled and delivered expertly to Chamberlain's head. Scotland 0. England 1.

It was the highlight of Wilshere's evening, one of many positives. He is settling into his unfamiliar role as a defensive midfielder, marshalling England's organisation and shape, keeping his team-mates in check and regulating their concentration levels. His contribution in beating the Auld enemy was substantial.

Worthy Man of the Match

There were occasional lapses of concentration and stray passes yet Wilshere is settling into his role as England's holding midfielder, embracing his new responsibility. The Arsenal midfielder has the required acumen - the accomplished passing range, the determination and the willingness to dive into challenges.

He orchestrated England's victory at Celtic Park, the sole creator of England's first and a prominent feature throughout this fractious friendly. A combination of strong challenges and forceful, mazy forward surges, Wilshere is making the role his own.

Wilshere knows the potential card can be played no longer. He is aware of the luminous achievements of those his age, 22, with Mario Gotze boasting a World champion winners' medal. It may not quite be now or never for Wilshere yet it is very close.

He was deployed at the base of Roy Hodgson's extravagant diamond formation, responsible for nullifying Scottish attacks, orchestrating some of England's own and steadying the English ship. He was immediately involved, robbing Charlie Mulgrew and sparking a promising and hazardous England break.

The 22 year-old's effervescence was influencing proceedings, first tracking Ikechi Anya and dispossessing the Scottish bundle of skills and tricks and steadying the English ship amid the volatility and animosity of Celtic Park. He was spreading the play to Nathaniel Clyne on the right channel, broadening England's attacking horizons.

His role in Chamberlain's opener was integral and considerable. It was he who first orchestrated the move, wriggling beyond the attempted challenges of Naismith and Mulgrew by the half way circle. He had done the first part of his venture, in creating an exploitable opening, yet the most arduous part remained.

The pass

The run from Chamberlain encouraged the stunning pass emanating from the vaunted, nimble feet of Wilshere. Noticing the advances of his Arsenal colleague, Wilshere delivered a long pass to match of total beauty. It floated over the Scottish resistance and into Chamberlain's onrushing path.

A pass of substance sufficiently worthy to grace the DVDs purporting to exhibit the mercurial holding midfield talents of Xabi Alonso, Pirlo and Javier Mascherano which Wilshere has meticulously studied. It should have arrived embossed with the word 'perfection.'

Wilshere continued to grow in stature, deemed to have challenged Mulgrew using excessive force as his determination shone through.

As England asserted their authority upon Scotland in the second-half, doubling their lead through Wayne Rooney's assured finish, Wilshere continued to flourish, continued to assert his excellence on this open encounter, almost finding Welbeck with an extravagant clipped pass were it not for Hanley's crucial headed intervention.

As the clock winded down, Wilshere continued to run, continued to graft. The Arsenal playmaker sprinted in pursuit of James Morrison, ultimately hauling the West Brom midfielder to the turf, before embarking on an audacious mazy run across Darren Fletcher and Andrew Robertson which ultimately collapsed.

As the clock signalled 86 minutes, Wilshere departed to an appreciative ovation from the 5,000-strong English travelling support, remembering his endeavour, determination, and most prominently, That pass!