JACK WILSHERE EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Arsenal man says he is now ready to return

Jack Wilshere’s oldest son, Archie, has already done Sportsmail’s job for us. ‘He’s like a journalist!’ says the dad of four. ‘He was asking the other day, “Are you going to play again? Loads of teams need midfielders, why don’t they sign you?” I don’t really know how to answer him.’

Wilshere has been training with former club Arsenal since October. Not with the Under 18s — where he also coaches — but with Mikel Arteta’s senior squad. Every day, too.

The arrangement was always that he would regain fitness and confidence while looking for a new team, and Wilshere is grateful for that chance. He has been unattached since leaving Bournemouth in May, after which there were three months training alone in his local park.

Ten-year-old Archie is now getting ready for football practice elsewhere in the family’s Hertfordshire home. Sportsmail’s role of inquisitor is resumed.

So, then, are you still good enough to play in the Premier League? ‘Yes. I’m confident I could deal with the physical side and have an influence,’ declares Wilshere, whose last top-flight appearance was for West Ham 18 months ago.

‘I always said when I went back to Arsenal that I would make a decision about my next step at the end of January. When you’ve been out the game, you never know which way it will go.

‘But it has convinced me that my playing career isn’t over. The manager is top class, and I wouldn’t still be training with the first team if I was bringing the standard down or couldn’t keep up.

‘I can still beat a man, and these are top players. That’s a sign, for me, that I can still do it and want to keep doing it.’

There are, however, no Premier League offers. In fact, other than his own January deadline, nothing is particularly close. He is getting