GARETH Southgate handed Jack Wilshere an England recall before admitting the midfielder’s loan move to Cherries had played a key role in the decision.

The 24-year-old has been conspicuous by his absence since Euro 2016, overlooked by the departed Sam Allardyce and then by interim boss Southgate.

But having taken the decision to leave Arsenal for Vitality Stadium on a temporary basis, Wilshere has rebuilt both form and fitness.

Having gone almost two years without completing a top-flight match, he has played every minute of Cherries’ past three games and returns to an expanded 25-man England squad for clashes with Scotland and Spain.

His case was helped by a knee injury to Dele Alli, whose Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane is also back after making a goalscoring return against Arsenal on Sunday.

Southgate told FATV: “Jack Wilshere is a player we feel has a lot of class and is now starting to get more games under his belt. It’s a good moment to bring him back into the squad.

“It’s been important for him to get regular football for Bournemouth and I’ve watched him a couple of times in the past couple of weeks. We know the quality he possesses and it’s good for him to know we have belief in him and that we want him in the squad.”

Cherries full-back Adam Smith missed out a first Three Lions call but is understood to be on standby as Kyle Walker’s fitness is being monitored.