Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels the Football Association must sort out who will be England manager sooner rather than later.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes time is running out ahead of Euro 2012 to name Fabio Capello's replacement, while ex-England boss Terry Venables, who backed Harry Redknapp for the job, criticised the FA for not acting swiftly enough.

The FA have made it clear they want to wait until early May in order to avoid destabilising any club, and also because if the next manager is currently in work, he would not leave his club until the end of the season.

Frenchman Wenger, 62, has himself been approached for the England job in the past, and accepts the FA are in a difficult position, but one which must be resolved quickly.

"I don't know their plan completely, I think they have been taken by surprise a bit with Capello going," said Wenger.

"They are now in a difficult situation and the sooner they sort it out, the better it is, but it is not easy for the federation [FA] at the moment because they do not want to interfere with what is going on in the Premier League. You can understand that."

After long being criticised for a lack of English talent in the Arsenal squad, Wenger now has a core of England youngsters at London Colney.

Midfielder Jack Wilshere is making steady progress on his return to fitness from a niggly ankle injury which has seen him miss all of the season so far.

Wenger revealed there was still a chance the 20-year-old could feature at the European Championships.

"The latest on Jack Wilshere is positive, but cautious. That means he is doing well in training and is getting stronger every week," said Wenger.

"At the moment it is too difficult to say he will play in the Euros.

"You cannot rule it out, but as well you cannot say with certainty he will be fit and available before the end of the season."

PA