Bounce-Jack-Ability: Can Jack Wilshere Replicate Ross Barkleys Career Resurgence?

​The last two years have been an emotional rollercoaster for Jack Wilshere. Returning to Arsenal at the end of the 2016/17 season following a loan spell at Bournemouth, it looked as if his 16-year association with the Gunners was over when Arsene Wenger told him he could leave the club.

Choosing to stay and fight for his place, Wilshere worked his way back into the starting lineup by December, and Wenger later hinted that he was a candidate to be the next Arsenal captain. But Wenger's time was up at the end of the season, and so was Wilshere's as his contract was allowed to run down.

Signing for ​West Ham felt like a fresh start, but in just his fourth game for the Hammers, ​Wilshere suffered an ankle injury against Wolves and was forced to undergo surgery. He has had to watch from the stands as West Ham's form has improved without him, and Declan Rice has excelled in his absence. 

Wilshere is back in contention now, but there is no guarantee that he will be able to walk back into the team. West Ham have suffered just two defeats in eight matches without Wilshere, compared to four in four with him. Correlation is not causation, but it doesn't look good for the 26-year-old.

Wilshere himself is staying positive, and he has identified one of his former England teammates, ​Ross Barkley, as a prime example of how he can bounce back.

Good news from the Boss:

"Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere are back in the squad. They worked every day with the squad this week."  pic.twitter.com/0YgloJO8Bj

— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) 22 November 2018

"It all comes down to having trust in your own ability. People can say what they want," Wilshere said, quoted by ​Sky Sports News. 

"Ross is the perfect example. I'm so happy for him. He has always been a great player and sometimes it takes time for players to find their feet. Obviously, he moved clubs and you can also pick up a few injuries.

"But then it all comes down to him, his inner belief and, at the end of the day, his football ability has done the talking."

Barkley's story is not exactly the same as Wilshere's, but there are certainly common themes. Wilshere was 18 when he made his England debut; Barkley was 19. Both were once lauded as the great hope of English football, but after England's humiliation at Euro 2016, both were dropped from the squad.

The appointment of Gareth Southgate offered hope of a reprieve but neither player did enough to work their way into his thoughts. By the time the 2018 World Cup came around, Barkley was injured and Wilshere was on his way out of Arsenal. England's greatest achievement of the 21st century passed both of them by.

The two players' paths have diverged since then. Barkley is back in the England setup after an excellent start to the season with ​Chelsea, while Wilshere is injury-prone, out of form, and dropping quickly down the pecking order for both club and country. His exile looks unlikely to end any time soon.

Wilshere wants to use Barkley as an example to follow, but the difference is that even when Barkley's career was suffering setbacks, he was making progress. The move to Chelsea was marred by the injuries surrounding it, but it was still a step up to a better team and a better calibre of teammate.

Wilshere, on the other hand, has taken a step down from Arsenal to West Ham. Southgate places less onus on club prestige than previous England managers, but it clearly factors into his decisions somewhat. Barkley got recalled before he had even scored a goal or made an assist this season. Would that have happened if he was still playing for ​Everton?

A cautionary tale can be found in the form of Wilshere's teammate Mark Noble, a stalwart midfielder who has performed consistently for West Ham over many seasons, but never got an England call-up. Wilshere must worry that he is destined for the same fate.

Asked in September what Wilshere must do to get a recall, Southgate said simply: "Play well." This may not have been intentionally damning, but it came across as an implied criticism both of Wilshere's performances and the media's obsession with selection decisions. But it also sent out a positive message: just play your football, and I'll worry about the rest.

Wilshere should take that advice, assuming Manuel Pellegrini gives him the chance. He must find his place at West Ham and learn how he can help the team. After spending so long at Arsenal, it is understandable that it should take a while for him to adapt to a new team and a new way of playing.

Wilshere may be unable to replicate Barkley's career trajectory, but he is right to admire the Scouser's 'inner belief'. Injury made Barkley a better, more selfless player. If Wilshere can harness that same frustration to evolve as a footballer, there's no reason to think he can't also turn his fortunes around.

Source : 90min