OPINION
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has had a bunch of problems to contend with this season when it comes to injuries and he will no doubt be hoping that next season goes a lot smoother for his side.
There have been a mixture of niggling problems as well as major injury layoffs which has seen him forced to chop and change his squad week-on-week.
Perhaps one of the biggest absentees has been Jack Wilshere, the England midfielder expected to play a huge role at the London Stadium but was instead forced to miss all but seven games this season.
That has not stopped Pellegrini from voicing his excitement about having the former Arsenal man back at his disposal both at the end of this campaign and towards next season, telling the Sun that he is “one of the most talented players in England,” and that “he can play one season and that will change everything.”
If Pellegrini is expecting Wilshere to play a big part next season then he has to find a place for him in the starting XI – something the current options in the centre of the park are not going to give up without a fight.
Not only that, but Pellegrini talks about Wilshere bringing an attacking cutting edge to the side, but where is he going to slot in?
Is he going to replace Declan Rice as a defensive midfielder? Not a chance. Is he going to take Manuel Lanzini’s place as an attacking midfielder? You would not expect so.
That leaves Mark Noble as the only other option and considering he is West Ham’s captain and leader, not to mention a composed presence in the middle, taking him out would upset the balance of the side.
The trio can prove Pellegrini wrong about Wilshere’s future by playing as they have been this season – it was a bold suggestion from the manager in the first place.