Just like Robert Snodgrass before him last summer Jack Wilshere will be working his socks out between may and August.
The midfielder made an impressive cameo appearance against Southampton after another injury dogged season but is determined to come back next term as ready as it gets.
It’s a praiseworthy attitude after the bitter disappointments of this campaign which has had many writing him off as a long term Hammers prospect.
Although he hadn’t suffered any injury Snodgrass worked through the summer last year as he attempted to get the kilos off and it paid off big time.
Jack – after returning to action in December and then being ruled out again – was not rushed back into action, instead building up strength in his ankle before being returned to action at Leicester City on 20 April.
Manuel Pellegrini is a huge fan and the player is now determined to pay him back by putting in the hard yards over the next couple of months or so and is now clearly very much in the frame for the final game against Watford.
Speaking to www.whufc.com he said: “It’s been a frustrating year but I wanted to get back before the end of the season to get some minutes and confidence going into pre-season, so it feels good.
“Injuries can happen at any point. I’m not naive enough to think that is the end of my injury problems but I will do everything I can to avoid them with strength and rehab work.
“I’ve worked so hard to get to this point, it’s a big off-season for me because I’m now quite fit and I don’t want to go away and come back and start again. So I have to do some work in the summer. I’m confident in my body. This injury just took its time to heal. I’m confident I can play far more games next season.”
“It will be a summer of work for me. I’ve worked so hard to get to this level and I want to maintain that, getting back to pre-season where I have left off. I don’t want to lose my fitness so I have to work through the summer.
“It is important you have a manager who has faith in you and trusts you and he certainly does that. He’s been nothing but good for me, he’s always been in contact and believes in me. That gives me confidence and trust. I know he likes me as a player and if I stay fit and work hard I will get minutes. He’s been brilliant for me.”