Jack Wilshere is still ‘hungry’ to play on despite considering quitting football at 29

Jack Wilshere has insisted he still has ‘hunger’ to play on and find a new club despite weighing up whether to quit football.

Former Arsenal golden boy Wilshere has seen his career decimated by injuries and is currently a free agent, with his most recent spell in the game coming with Bournemouth last year in the Championship. 

But he is determined not to let the setback prevent him from continuing his career, and has outlined the excitement he still gets when stepping out onto the pitch. 

Jack Wilshere has admitted he is weighing up quitting football with no offers tabled for him

Speaking to The Athletic, the midfielder also revealed his desperation to be involved this season, and described the feeling of being made to watch on from home.

‘What I would say is I still have that hunger in me, somewhere deep in me, that all I want to do is play football,’ Wilshere said.

‘I don’t want people to think, “Oh look, poor Jack, he hasn’t got a club, (but) he’s made loads of money out of football, he gets to stay home with his kids”.

‘When I wake up in the morning I want to look forward to going to training and being with the lads. I want to get back out on the pitch, especially with the fans now back. 

Wilshere burst on to the scene at Arsenal but his career has been hit by a number of injuries

‘I’ve watched every single game that’s been on TV since the start of the season and I want to be part of that.

‘I want that feeling of going out on the pitch, hearing the fans and just being able to play football again.’

He has also delved into the pain he has felt while struggling to secure a club. 

Questioned on whether he feels his career may be drawing to a close, Wilshere said: ‘Yeah, that does cross my mind quite a lot. 

‘When you’re at a club and training every day, you wake up and if you’re not in a team, or even if you are in the team, you think, “Right, I’ve got to train well today. I need to show the manager I’m ready for the weekend”. I don’t have that.

After being released following a short-term stint at Bournemouth, Wilshere is now a free agent

‘So I’m waking up in the mornings at the moment and I’m thinking, “Right, I need to go and train somewhere”. Normally it’s on my own… OK, I’ve been training with a club in pre-season but that’s finished now. 

‘I’m back to waking up, training on my own and finding that motivation.

‘And the question I keep asking myself at the moment is: What am I doing it for?

‘I said to my agent I don’t want to be in that position where I’m waiting and waiting and before you know it January comes and I’ve almost wasted another season. 

‘I’m not getting any younger and I don’t want that. I did that last year, so to do it again… I feel like I’d be wasting my time.’

Wilshere explosively burst into the spotlight as a youngster at the Emirates and, at just 16 years of age, was predicted to reach the very top.

Wilshere spent just two years at West Ham before leaving and is now considering his future

He recalled an awkward chat over the lack of clubs with son, Archie (third from left), aged nine

He dazzled during Arsenal’s victory over Barcelona in the Champions League in 2012, and when fit often starred during a decade at the club. He has win 34 England caps.

But severe and persistent injuries, including serious ankle problems and a broken leg, have derailed his career and he finds himself unemployed after a two-year stint at West Ham and short spell on the south coast. 

Painfully, Wilshere has also recalled a moment where his son, Archie, aged nine, asked him why no clubs are interested in him. 

‘My kids are at an age where they understand,’ Wilshere added. ‘Especially Archie, who’s nine. He’s actually having conversations with me, saying, “What about the MLS?” or “Why aren’t you playing in La Liga?”

‘He loves football. He knows everything about football. And it is difficult to explain to him. He’ll say to me, “How come no club wants you?” I don’t know. But how do I explain that to him?

Midfielder Wilshere admits he thought he’d still be at a top club, but the setbacks took their toll

‘They’ve got friends at school and you know what kids can be like, they can be quite brutal. “Why is your dad not working? Is he not good enough? Is he not good at football?” Yeah, that’s tough.’

And as the wait goes on for Wilshere, with the Premier League having also returned, he has continued to reflect on how his world came crashing down.

‘Being honest, I probably never thought I’d be in this position,’ he said.

‘Today I was running around an athletics track and struggling to imagine I would be here at this point in my career.

‘Everyone used to say to me, “(At) 28, 29… you’ll be at the peak of your career”. And I thought I would. I thought I’d still be playing for England, (that) I’d be at a top club.’