OPINION
West Ham midfielder Jack Wilshere will be the first to admit he has some making up to do after his first season in east London.
Having arrived at the London Stadium on a free transfer at the end of his Arsenal contract, the Irons faithful got an early look at the 27-year-old as he featured in their opening four Premier League games – all of which ended in defeat.
Unfortunately for the England international, injury struck and the West Ham supporters got to see him just four more times in the Premier League, three of those coming in the club’s final four games of the campaign.
Back fit and firing ahead of next season, Wilshere knows it will not be easy to stake a claim for a regular starting role, primarily due to the arrival of Pablo Fornals this summer.
The 23-year-old was the club’s first acquisition of the transfer window and if his performances for Spain in their under-21 European Championship campaign is anything to go by, the Hammers have picked up a gem.
Wilshere himself has told Football.London that he views Fornals as competition for his role in the side and there will be plenty of Hammers supporters desperate to see what he can bring to the side.
Unfortunately for them, they will have to bide their time, Football.London reporting that the Spaniard will not be joining the squad for their trip to China, where they will take part in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
Having already missed a training camp in Switzerland, Fornals will know he is missing out on time where he could be staking a claim for a starting role – something which Wilshere will know all too well.
This is the England midfielder’s chance to prove to Manuel Pellegrini he is deserving of that first team position and to keep Fornals out the side for at least the start of the season.
Fornals missing out on their China trip is surely a boost to Wilshere’s hopes of proving his abilities to the manager, the fans and maybe even himself – he just has to make sure he performs to the best of his capabilities.
