OPINION
Supposedly, it was Albert Einstein who said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
That must be an adage that West Ham fans identify with an awful lot after hearing that Jack Wilshere has been ruled out of their side’s clash with Newcastle United on Saturday, as per Claret & Hugh.
The 34 cap England international has been plagued by injuries his entire career, but there was a kind of blind optimism, predominantly displayed by Manuel Pellegrini, that his time in east London would be better than his spell in the north of the capital with Arsenal.
Increasingly, however, it looks as if that optimism was misplaced.
Wilshere has made just two starts and four substitute appearances so far this season, and even when he has played, he has not looked anywhere near his best.
The 27-year-old has averaged just 0.2 dribbles per game, as per Whoscored, as well as having no shots and making no key passes in 177 minutes of top flight football so far.
Taking his form out of the equation for a moment though, these niggling injuries that are keeping him out for a week here and a fortnight there are all too common for the midfielder, and the worry will be that they are the first signs of his body slowly breaking down again.
If that happens, given his exorbitant salary and how ineffective he has been when he is fit, you have to start wondering whether it is time to move him on.
It may seem ruthless, but keeping a player who can barely play is akin to insanity.
