Jack Wilshere fails England audition as Bournemouth draw at Watford

Eddie Howe was adamant speculation linking him with England had not been a distraction in a week that ended with his Bournemouth side drawing 2-2 at Watford. The Hornets twice came from behind at Vicarage Road and the England hopeful Jack Wilshere spurned a glorious opportunity to win it for Bournemouth.

Howe played down suggestions he would be Sam Allardyce’s successor as England manager on Thursday and repeated his focus was on Bournemouth after the Premier League clash.

“It’s been the easiest thing in the world for me,” Howe said. “Football and the day-to-day workings of the job are what I love to do. So, no disrespect, I don’t take a blind bit of notice of anything that is written or said because I have to focus on the football and the players I have here.”

Wilshere missed out on Allardyce’s one and only England squad and did little to enhance his prospects of a return for the World Cup qualifiers with Malta and Slovakia.

The on-loan Arsenal midfielder twice hit the outside of the post, the second from six yards out with the goal gaping after Adam Smith’s cross from the right. Moments later he was substituted. Wilshere has not completed 90 minutes in a Premier League game for 20 games and more than two years. But Howe preferred to accentuate the positives as Wilshere’s hunt for a first Premier League goal since May 2015 continued.

“The pleasing thing for us is that Jack’s getting in goal-scoring positions,” Howe added. “With his class and his quality there’s no doubt he’ll be scoring goals for this team in the future. The last two games he’s improved as the game has gone on. He’s grown into the game. I felt that was the same today. His influence grew. And I think he’s going to be a massive player for us.”

Callum Wilson’s first-half header from Junior Stanislas’s cross was cancelled out by Troy Deeney. Josh King restored the lead moments after coming off the substitutes’ bench, but the Hornets levelled for a second time through Isaac Success three minutes later.