When you think about what he could have achieved at Arsenal and how brilliant he was in those fleeting bursts - ultimately Jack Wilshere's entire playing career feels like one of the great unfulfilled disappointments of his generation. And, please, don't get us started on the rest of that supposedly golden crop of young England talent that came through alongside him, because that whole chapter is an absolute joke too!
Anyone remember the Three Lions' humiliation against Iceland? No, thought not.
It remains one of the persistent frustrations of modern football that so many outrageously gifted, highly paid and pampered talents of that era simply fell by the wayside, their potential dissolving into injury woes, social media nonsense and lost focus. Far too many of those English prodigies failed monumentally on the biggest stages, and too often seemed far more preoccupied with curated Instagram posts, personal brand deals and accumulated wealth than with the craft of the game or the supporters who paid their wages.
For all the hype and all the natural ability that once made him tipped to become the heartbeat of huge domestic team and his country for a decade, Wilshere's senior trophy haul remains absurdly thin for a player of his calibre. He claimed two FA Cups and an FA Community Shield across 16 years as a professional.
That is, honestly, a pitiful return for someone who carried such heavy expectations on his shoulders. Injuries didn't help, yet the former Gunner played a lot of football.
Jack Wilshere sounded out by Leicester City?!
After hanging up his boots, Wilshere moved swiftly into coaching and then management, cutting his teeth with AFC youth along with at Norwich City. Before building a solid early reputation at Luton Town amid a promising start to his career in the dugout.
It has now been confirmed that Leicester City did make an approach to sound him out for the vacant manager's post prior to Russell Martin's hire. Wilshere himself openly acknowledged contact whilst declaring that he firmly turned the opportunity down.
Much of the Blue Army met the mere mention of Wilshere's name with genuine surprise and deep-seated scepticism: clearly few were convinced he was ready for such a role at this stage of his development. In truth, the link was always predictable given the strides he has taken at Kenilworth Road, but on balance Martin appears the stronger appointment for the King Power hot seat.
Though the latter must be watched closely, for results remain the only true measure of any manager. Martin's tactical obstinance must also be monitored on Filbert Way.
Nevertheless, there remains something irksome and contradictory about Wilshere's phrasing: claiming he would not comment on the East Midlanders before launching straight into a definitive statement.
"I don’t think it would be fair for me to comment on that, number one because of how happy I am here and how grateful I am to everyone here... there was never any chance that I was going to step away from what we’ve created here."Wilshere - Luton Today
Obviously the 34-year-old is looking to improve his career in general - why else would he divulge this specific information? Luton supporters beware: in spite of this hollow reassurance - Wilshere will immediately jump ship whenever an attractive offer transpires!
Furthermore, Wilshere has openly admitted that failing to win the Premier League the year LCFC won it remains his biggest regret. Relevant? Possibly.
"I don't really believe in regrets. But I probably sometimes, like when you're driving a car or you're thinking about something on your own, it's probably that year when Leicester won the league."Wilshere - talkSPORT
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