Oxfordshire star Josh McEachran has been tipped for the very top by England Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce.

The former left back likened the Chelsea midfielder, who lives in Kirtlington, to Jack Wilshere, who won his first full cap for England against Denmark.

And Pearce believes that McEachran, who made his first start for England Under 21s in their 1-0 defeat in Italy, has a huge future in the game.

The 17-year-old was initially named in the Under 19 squad, but numerous withdrawals from Pearce’s party meant McEachran was moved up an age group.

Pearce threw him straight into the starting line-up, and McEachran, who has made 14 appearances for Chelsea’s first team this season, seized his chance.

“Chelsea think extremely highly of him and you can see why,” Pearce said.

“He’s got the vision that, if players run off of him, he’s got the ability to find them with passes.

“All of our cutting passes probably came from him. I think Josh is a really outstanding talent, similar to Wilshere, and it bodes well for us.”

Pearce hinted McEachran may well have played himself into the Under 21s for the foreseeable future, adding: “He’s come in and played outstandingly well.

“If I feel as though he is going to start for me, then he will be in the Under 21 squad from now on.

“If I feel as though he is going to come in and be a squad player, then there’s no need and he will stay with the Under 19s and play football.

“If he carries on playing like that, then it won’t be long before he’s permanently in the Under 21 side.

“We talk about the lack of talent in England at times, but when you look at the talent of McEachran and Wilshere, then I apply one of Sir Trevor (Brooking’s) famous old sayings: ‘If they were wearing Spanish shirts, you would revere them’.

“They are two outstanding players who can see a pass and see the whole picture better than I can as a coach.”