Since 2009, Jack Wilshere has missed 185 matches through injury, a torrid record that ultimately ended his hopes of succeeding at Arsenal and for England, and now there is worry following another blow this weekend.
No more than an hour into the first Premier League game of the season – a 5-0 thumping from champions Manchester City at the London Stadium – Wilshere was withdrawn for Robert Snodgrass after he appeared to take a knock.
The opener will be quickly forgotten by many Hammers fans, but it’d be a great shame to see Wilshere kept on the sidelines so soon, especially after such an impressive pre-season period in which he looked as sharp as ever.
After full-time, Wilshere was calm about his condition whilst speaking to the Daily Mail, as cited by Hammers News:
I’m fine. That’s part of playing in the Premier League. You get kicks. I’ve got a dead leg but it will be gone soon.
With that news, the 27-year-old’s recovery time could be from two to three days to two to three weeks, but despite only being a West Ham player for one season, he’s already spent almost 200 days out of action.
The arrival of fresh creativity in Pablo Fornals and the emergence of Declan Rice only makes it seem more likely that time could be running out for Wilshere, and it’d be harsh to see a player with such quality diminished through poor luck.
