Despite Wilshere's enthusiasm, other former England stars have urged caution. Michael Owen, who famously took the 1998 World Cup by storm as a teenager, suggested that Dowman has not yet done enough to displace established stars in the squad.
"He would have to basically start virtually every game from now to the end of the season and smash the lights out of everything for you to be able to justify him going ahead of what is probably the strongest part of our team in those attacking wide areas," Owen said. Similarly, former Arsenal star Theo Walcott warned against the emotional toll of such a move, saying: "I hope he doesn't go. If I could go back in time, I would change things. He needs to grow at his own pace, especially on the emotional side because he's a young adult."