West Ham to tailor Jack Wilshere's fitness plan in bid to avoid Arsenal injury woes

James Benge24 July 2018

Jack Wilshere has a personalised fitness plan at West Ham that may prevent him from playing week-in, week-out for his new club - but Manuel Pellegrini hopes will allow him to make a major impact to the Hammers' cause.

Wilshere joined West Ham on a free transfer on the expiry of his contract at Arsenal as he searches for the first-team football Unai Emery could not guarantee him at the Gunners.

When he first burst onto the scene as a teenager Wilshere seemed the future of the Arsenal midfield for the next decade, but a string of ankle and ligament injuries have had a major impact on the 26-year-old’s career.

Though Wilshere enjoyed a relatively injury-free run in his final season at Arsenal there were still concerns about his condition, with tendon issues dogging him at times during the final months of the campaign.

Wilshere’s fitness will be closely monitored by the West Ham hierarchy next season as Pellegrini looks to get the most out of a playmaker who he believes can have a major impact in the Hammers' bid to establish themselves in the top half.

West Ham United via Getty Images

The Chilean said: “We are doing a plan with the doctor with him and with the physical manager [Jose Cabello]. We are trying to do a different thing with him so he can be comfortable and not to try to play every game of the season because he must work in a different way.

“Undoubtedly he had quite a few injuries in the past. But the season he played at Bournemouth he played a lot of games. Last season he did not have too many injuries.

“We will try to keep him working in different ways to the rest of the squad. At the end of the year we will see what happens with him. But at the moment he is working well and in the way he likes.”

Wilshere opted not to sign a contract extension offered to him by Arsenal after Arsene Wenger’s successor Emery made clear that he could not guarantee him a regular role in his side; something which would be crucial if he is to win back a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

The playmaker was not short of options and is believed to have held talks with Turkish giants Fenerbahce before eventually opting to remain in London and join the club he supported as a boy.

“I had very good conversations with him," Pellegrini added. "I tried to convince him that he is just 26 years old, if he wants to go away to earn more money he can do it.

West Ham United via Getty Images

"But he was in an age where he can continue playing here. Where he will play? Good players play… Jack Wilshere will play as Jack Wilshere.

"You cannot change him. So he will play in the position where he is more comfortable and do his best football.”

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