Jack Wilshere returns to Bournemouth – what can he offer in the final half of the season?

Jack Wilshere has completed a move back to AFC Bournemouth on a short term deal until the end of the season, returning to the club after making a loan move from Arsenal in the 2016-2017 season.

He has initially signed a deal until the end of the season but it’s expected that the Cherries will review the situation at the end of the season and it will likely to depend both on how Wilshere does and which division the club find themselves in.

The 29-year-old left West Ham earlier this season after seeing his contract cancelled in October and began training with Jason Tindall’s side in December.

He featured 27 times for the Cherries in the Premier League following the loan move from the Gunners and was part of the club’s highest ever finish in the league, ending up ninth place.

Wilshere has always really struggled to get a continued run of starts and appearances but a fresh challenge at Bournemouth comes at a time where Junior Stanislas has been ruled out for up to a month and Arnaut Danjuma is working his way back to full fitness, so Wilshere has a chance to hit the ground running.

He is set to make his second debut at the club tomorrow evening when Tindall’s men travel to Wayne Rooney’s Derby County as they look to find a winning formula back after dropping points at home to Millwall and Luton Town in recent days.

Given that he has been training with the club for sometime now you would think that fitness shouldn’t be an issue for the former Arsenal man who can offer so much to the club both on and off the field.

Tindall has spoken about having Wilshere involved in and around the team in recent weeks to the Bournemouth Echo.

“I have stayed in touch with Jack.

“He was great to work with, he’s a great lad and I think when he was here at the football club, he really took the club and everyone to heart.

“He really enjoyed his experience and time here. We’ve got a good relationship and when you’ve got an opportunity to bring someone in to train with the group, with the quality of Jack, then you’re not going to turn it down.”

Wilshere has made over 250 appearances in his career to date so will offer plenty of experience to the Bournemouth squad as they look to earn an instant return to the Premier League.

His ability on the ball has been clear for all to see throughout his career and if he can build a relationship with David Brooks, who the club have been heavily reliant on this season, they will now have to sources of creativity.

Wilshere undoubtedly has Premier League quality but he may well benefit form taking a slight step down to the Championship, having never played lower than the top tier in all his spells at Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers, Bournemouth and West Ham United most recently.

He will likely get slightly more time on the ball in the Championship, so it may actually suit Wilshere’s style of being able spray long balls across the pitch. He could thrive under Tindall, with the pair having worked together before and could be a great move for both parties.

While he is unlikely to start in the trip to Pride Park tomorrow evening, you would expect him to play much more of a significant role and even earn a start in this weekend’s FA Cup tie against League Two side Crawley Town.