Is Jack Wilshere the man to get Bournemouth back in the big time?

Jack Wilshere re-signed for Bournemouth on a short-term deal until the end of the season last week following his release from West Ham, and providing he can stay fit he is going to be vital in getting the club back in the Premier League this season.

Everyone knows just how much quality the 29-year-old possess but all throughout his career he has been heavily hampered by unfortunate injuries but he will hope a fresh start at Bournemouth can get his game back on track.

However, Jason Tindall and his coaching staff were prepared to take a chance on the midfielder, initially inviting him to join first team training in December before completing a deal to sign him until the end of the season early last week.

Jack Wilshere.

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— AFC Bournemouth ? (@afcbournemouth) January 26, 2021

He came off the bench in the club’s narrow 1-0 loss at Derby County last Tuesday and started from the off in the 2-1 victory over Crawley Town in the FA Cup which has seen the Cherries set up a last 16 tie with Burnley in two weeks time.

It didn’t take the former Arsenal man long to make an impact, firing a brilliant strike into the top corner after a nice team move from Tindall’s men which finished with Josh King flicking the ball to Wilshere on the edge of the box to apply a calm finish into the top corner.

Away from his goal, the midfielder was brilliant throughout, causing the Red Devils plenty of problems in the midfield, playing some quick, neat, incisive passes which really progressed the home side’s attack in the game and helped them see off the challenge of the West Sussex side.

Despite training with the side in recent weeks, the midfielder is severely lacking game time, meaning he lasted just past the hour mark and to come in and have the influence he has had straight away just indicates how key a player he will be for the club between now and the end of the season.

Bournemouth have hit a bit of a sticky patch in recent weeks, winning just one of their last six in the league so the addition of Wilshere is timely for Tindall as he looks to find a way to get his side back in form ahead of the second half of the Championship season.

The Cherries’ midfielder couldn’t hide his excitement at being back at the Cherries and scoring his first goal for the club in his post match press conference following the win against Crawley.

 We wanted to get that winning feeling back in the group and from a personal point of view it was just a brilliant feeling to be back starting a game, especially at the Vitality, I miss that stadium, I really enjoyed my time here before.

“Last time I was here I didn’t score which didn’t sit well with me so it was nice to score for Bournemouth on my first appearance since coming back so hopefully that’s the first of many.

“I forgot how to celebrate. With all the Covid rules, it does come into your head when you score and I was a bit shocked as well because it’s been a while since I scored and it was in my head that when I signed, I wanted to score and I probably didn’t think it was going to happen in the first game but I’m happy it did and I should have had a couple more as well.”

Wilshere is enjoying his second spell on the south coast after joining the club when they were in the Premier League under Eddie Howe in the 2016-2017 season in which he made 29 appearances but that spell was cut short due to injury so he was keen to make a return to the club.

He had built up a strong working relationship with many of the players and the staff and before coming back for a second stint he admitted that the Cherries were the only Championship club he would have joined following his release from the Hammers in October.

Credit: AFC Bournemouth

The Englishman will add some much-needed experience to Bournemouth’s squad but he will also bring great quality on the ball which has been the team’s problem in the last month or so, with a lot of sides playing a low block, making life very tricky for Tindall’s men.

Wilshere will help in having the added to help start turning draws into wins and getting the club back up the table.

Like mentioned earlier, injuries have prevented the 29-year-old from having the career that many expected him to have when he broke into the Arsenal first team at the age of just 16 under Arsene Wenger.

Having now come back to a club he has fond memories with it could be the catalyst to helping him get back on track and fulfil his full potential which everyone knows is there.

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