Thrillingly he wants to play the ball forward and it was noticeable how the other England players reacted when he was on the ball. They were making runs for him with Wharton wanting to take possession in tight spaces and use his passing range.
In fairness it must also be factored in that the game was opening up by then, and England were on the front foot having just gone ahead through Cole Palmer’s penalty, when Wharton came on. There was less pressure from Bosnia.
But Palace manager Oliver Glasner talks of his “preorientation” – an ability to know his pass even before he receives the ball. This is what Southgate means when he describes it as seeing “the picture” and it is – obviously – a rare and precious quality to possess especially in the break-neck speed of modern football.
Wharton is also tall and good in the air. Physically he looks the part – a bonus in the Premier League, of course – and will only develop more. Nicknamed “the Wilpshire Pirlo” – with Italy’s Andrea Pirlo a prime example of the kind of midfielder English football struggles to produce – after the Lancashire village north of Blackburn in which his family lives, he has a lot to live up to. But the signs are promising.
“He’s a very calm boy, he seems to have taken everything in his stride when you think of what the last year has been,” Southgate said.
Wharton’s progress has been astonishing. Southgate was there at Selhurst Park to watch him in the 4-0 victory over Manchester United on May 6. His assistant Steve Holland attended the final day 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa with Wharton one of four Palace players to make the enlarged initial squad.
It felt then that his call-up was very much in the category of ‘one for the future’ and Southgate has revealed that he spoke to the five uncapped players he included to tell them it was unlikely they would make his final cut. That was expected and good management.
But he also added that things could change, not least through injury, and chances could be seized. Whether Wharton makes the plane on Monday remains to be seen but he has suddenly given himself a chance and it would be no surprise if he featured against Iceland – as Mainoo will – during Friday’s final friendly game at Wembley before the squad is finalised by midnight.