Could Jack Wilshere and Adam Johnson Make England's World Cup Squad?

Tradition dictates that there should be one outstanding young player who makes a late bid for a spot in the England World Cup squad. In 1998 it was 18-year-old Michael Owen, who was selected at the 11th hour. The teenager responded by scoring, arguably, the goal of the tournament against Argentina.

In 2006, another teenager, Aaron Lennon, was rewarded for his fine club form with a late call-up and was one of the few England players to emerge from the tournament with any credit. Theo Walcott was also a surprise addition to the squad but failed to make a single appearance.

Fast forward to 2010 and Fabio Capello must be wondering whether to include a joker in his world cup pack. While the majority of the squad appears to be more or less set in stone there is still time for one or two players to impress Capello sufficiently to make the plane for South Africa.

I think there are two uncapped players who would both be excellent additions to the existing England squad. The argument for Man City winger Adam Johnson's inclusion is simple: He has gone from strength to strength since his arrival from Middlesbrough in January and is currently being included in the City side at the expense of established England international Shaun Wright-Phillips.

If Man City manager Roberto Mancini rates Johnson higher than Wright-Phillips then why shouldn't Capello feel the same way? While uncapped at international level, Johnson, 22, is already an established under-21 international and has put in a series of impressive performances for Man City, culminating in a superb goal against Sunderland last month.

A number of established wingers are suffering due to a lack of either fitness or form and Johnson could consider himself highly unfortunate if he was not to make the final 23. Theo Walcott has not developed at the expected rate and rarely finds the end product to go with his blistering pace. Wright Phillips has had a mixed season and Joe Cole has yet to recapture the form he showed a few campaigns ago. Injury has ruled David Beckham out of what would have been his World Cup swan song.

One English winger who has impressed is 18-year-old Jack Wilshere. Tipped at the start of the season as a future England international, he failed to make the expected breakthrough into the Arsenal side, but a loan move to Bolton Wanderers in January has done wonders for Wilshere.

He has fast established himself as a stalwart of the Bolton side and has caught the eye with composed and creative performances against both Chelsea and Man United. Bolton manager Owen Coyle had this to say about a prospective World Cup call-up for the young midfielder:

"It wouldn't faze him. For 18 years of age, he has maturity beyond his years and a great head on his shoulders. He is great on the ball, he can take opponents out of the game, he can give you a three-against-two or four-against-three situation. He sees a pass and he has got goals in him.

He has continued to get better, he's really growing—not height-wise, but as a player. Whether Mr Capello feels he has done enough to get into his squad, then that remains to be seen, but I can understand why people would think he has a wildcard chance," he said.

Coyle acknowledges that a call-up for Wilshere would represent something of a gamble.

"If there is room for taking a young one or earmarking them for the future I don't know, but I certainly believe he is capable of playing with the best."

Both Johnson and Wilshere will undoubtedly be England internationals of the future. Whether the World Cup will come too soon for either is a decision which Capello will shortly have to make.

Just six months ago Wilshere was languishing in the Arsenal reserves while Johnson was stuck in the Championship with a mediocre Middlesbrough side. Neither looked a likely contender for an England call-up but transfer window moves have proved the making of both men.

There has been little to suggest that the current crop of England players will ever be more than world cup outsiders. If England are to win a World Cup for the first time in almost 40 years Capello is going to need to gamble, and he could do worse than take a punt on either Johnson or Wilshere.