Jack Wilshere has now been fit to play regular football since September 15, 2017 after a career ravaged by injuries.
As we reported last night (Thurs) he faces one of the most stringent medicals ever at West Ham today where he stands on the brink of a three year deal with the club.
Both Wolves and Fenerbache have been in the race for the free agent but he is now as close as it gets to landing a deal which will keep him in London at West Ham.
Had Manu Lanzini not been injured pre-World Cup the Hammers may not have moved for the 26 year old but that has clearly altered the landscape.
Wilshere’s injury record makes horrible reading but last season is the upside as he remained fit enough to complete 38 games for Arsenal last season and impress sufficiently to be able to turn down a new deal.
This morning however, he has to go through the procedures which will finally decide whether the Hammers can take the risk of offering him the £15 million three year deal they are planning.
So here’s what they have to check and consider given the injuries Wilshere has suffered since his breakthrough into the Arsenal first team in 2010.
His most notable injury came in a pre-season game in 2011 when a broken ankle in the Emirates Cup against New York Red Bull kept him out for the whole of the 2011/12 season.
Ankle injuries plagued him throughout the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. and he faced another lengthy spell out after a poor challenge from Paddy McNair in the 2014/15 season.
He was of course loaned to Bournemouth for the 2016/17 campaign, where he would was a regular performer before a leg fracture late in the season.
He has had it tough and in total he has missed 155 games through injury. Or, if you prefer, 1,103 days.
Transfermarkt.com has tracked his injury record down the years and whilst the major issues are listed above, here’s the complete record: https://www.transfermarkt.com/jack-wilshere/verletzungen/spieler/74223.
“Growing up as a West Ham fan, there was a couple (of players I looked up to) in that team,” Wilshere told Premier League World.
“You know Joe Cole was one of mine (heroes), he started at a young age and you know he was a skilful player.
“And also one was Paolo Di Canio, I think every West Ham fan loved him, he scored some great goals and there were some great moments he had in a West Ham shirt so probably him (if I had to pick one).”
Seems to me that his injuries have resulted from “genuine” combat. By which I mean that they are not the result of breaking down in training, pre-match etc; or from some , seemingly, innocuous challenge or “freak” injury. If so, he doesn’t appear to be “injury prone” in the same way that Andy Carroll is. Give him a chance – sign him.
I will be absolutely buzzing if we sign Jack. He is pure class when fit. His injuries have often been caused by a bad tackle, not a frail body.
he played more games than any of our midfielders last year and would be a guaranteed started in our midfield every week. WE want to improve our team, this signing does this.
And in reality, the risk is low. No transfer fee. What would he be worth if we wished to sign him? 20/30 mil easy. if we are only paying him wages, if he does get injured at the end of the day the cost isnt “too” bad in footballing money terms.
This signing will also help attract better players, amazing signing. PLEASE pull it off westham.
He made 22 premier league starts in 2016/17 and 12 in 2017/18 – I stand by my earlier prediction that he won’t make it to 20 for this coming season. But let’s be clear, I hope I’m wrong – he is a very good player when fully fit, but I think West Ham are taking a hell of a gamble with £5 million odd quid a year unless they put in some appearance clause.
These types of player with low centres of gravity like Wilshere, like Lanzini, that can twist and turn and go past people for fun often end up being targeted. Seems to me that’s what happened to Wilshere in the past because he maybe held onto the ball too long. Now when he sees a bad challenge coming in he tends to release the ball early, pass it to a teammate and avoid the challenge. I think this type of game management, change in the way he plays helped him to play 38 games for Arsenal last year without injury. It’s a shame Andy Carroll hasn’t similarly learned to avoid the physical contact that is a part of the way he plays but then maybe he wouldn’t be the same player.
Some of these stats are very selective. Last season he made 18 cup appearances but people only quote Prem league. All together it’s 38 appearances last season.
I think a lot of the previous problems with Wilshere have been around his attitude, he definitely didn’t take things too seriously when he was younger with regards to his wellbeing, his injuries are contact injuries through selection he has only missed 1 competitive game in two years, if he is serious and he will know better than anyone West Ham fans won’t let him give less than 100% every time he is on the field let alone Pellegrini so I am hopeful we will see the best of Jack Wilshere, hopefully as well playing for his childhood club will fire him on, lets hope he passes the medical COYI !!!