Jack Wilshere’s career in football has looked bleak in recent years due to serious injury problems.

When the midfielder has a fitness setback, it never tends to be a niggle or something minor, but rather a severe issue that requires operations and lengthy rehabilitation.

The 26-year-old ended what was a positive loan stint at Bournemouth last season with a broken bone in his leg, but since returning to action for Arsenal this season, the midfielder has impressed.

Wilshere hit back at doubters with a decent showing against Chelsea on Wednesday night –  a 2-2 draw in which he scored his first Premier League goal of the season.

In fact, the England international has been playing so well that manager Arsene Wenger has started him in the club’s last six games.

There is still uncertainty over Wilshere’s future, though, as he is out of contract in the summer and is no closer to signing a new deal.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes that the midfielder has shown in recent matches that he is reaching the same level of importance as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, both of whom also came to the end of their contracts his summer.

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In a column for the Daily Mail, Keown said:

“Jack Wilshere proved against Chelsea on Wednesday that he is well and truly back, and a force to be reckoned with. He is a superstar approaching the levels of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil but, crucially, he wants to play for Arsenal.”

Everton manager Sam Allardyce has suggested that he will allow Theo Walcott to pick where he plays.

The experienced coach has been vocal in his desire to sign the England international from Arsenal before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

The Daily Mail claims that the Toffees hope to seal the attacker’s signature for around £20m.

Walcott has been part of the Arsenal fold for 12 years after joining from Southampton.

The 28-year-old has scored more than 100 goals, but he never quite hit the heights on an individual level for the Gunners.

During his time playing under Arsene Wenger, Walcott has been handed various roles in attack.

However, the ex-Saints star has admitted in the past that he prefers to be positioned up front.

Judging by Allardyce’s latest comments, it seems that Walcott will be given an opportunity to revive his career.

Although, nothing is guaranteed as yet with regards to the player’s position.

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The Daily Mail quotes the manager as saying:

“I don’t know where I’ll play him until we get that deal done. When that deal’s done I can have that conversation with him. I see him playing anywhere across the front three and I’m presuming if he’s not comfortable with that then he’ll tell us and it won’t happen. We’d have that conversation if we were going to secure that transfer and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

According to reports in The Mirror, West Ham United are reportedly ready to offload former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month, and Red Devils fans have urged their club to re-sign the 29-year-old.

The Mexico international only joined the Irons in a £16m deal from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer, but he has struggled to make an impact at the London Stadium and has only scored four times in 17 appearances in all competitions for the Hammers.

Chicharito was always a popular figure during his previous spell with United, for whom he netted 59 goals in 157 outings before making the switch to Germany.

Man United supporters were quick to have their say on the potential of Hernandez being available this month via social media, and while one simply said “bring him home”, another said “for £10m it’s a no-brainer”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Southampton announced a piece of transfer news this morning, but it was probably not quite what the fans were hoping for.

The Saints’ fanbase have been desperate for the club to bring in some new faces to help stave off relegation from the Premier League.

At the moment, Mauricio Pellegrino’s men sit inside the bottom three, one point from safety following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s.

The club pocketed a figure thought to be around £75m for Virgil van Dijk when they sold the defender to Liverpool earlier this month, but that cash is yet to be spent on new players.

Today, the coastal outfit announced a transfer, but it was an outgoing rather than an arrival.

Matt Targett has moved to Fulham on loan until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old will drop down to the Championship to gain some regular game time having started just two league matches for Southampton this season.

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Fans tweeted their reaction to the news when it was announced.

With domestic and European action thick and fast this time of year, it’s easy to forget the World Cup in Russia is just around the corner. We’re now on a countdown to the 2018 edition of international football’s top tournament and Gareth Southgate has some huge decisions to make before he drafts his England squad.

Perhaps the biggest regards central midfield. Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson are consistent and disciplined, but lack the technical quality and creativity other countries naturally boast in their engine room.

That suggests there’s at least one spot up for grabs in England’s midfield, should a player prove themselves to be an adept dictator of possession between now and the end of the season.

Jonjo Shelvey is no stranger to the England scene and although he doesn’t appear to be key figure in Southgate’s plans at the moment, he did show what he can offer the Three Lions against Manchester United on Sunday – combining quality in possession with real grittiness off the ball.

With that in mind, we recently asked Newcastle fans whether Shelvey will make England’s World Cup squad and although the majority who took part in our poll voted no, 42% expect the six-cap international to be involved in Russia.

Who else would you include in England’s midfield ranks, Newcastle fans? Let us know by commenting below…

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A few months ago, the prospect of losing Alexis Sanchez would have been a dreaded thought for Arsenal fans.

In January, the will-he-won’t-he saga came to an end when the Chile international joined Manchester United.

Arsenal did not miss out entirely, though, as the club secured the signature of Henrikh Mkhitaryan in a swap deal.

The Armenian international struggled to hold down a regular spot in Jose Mourinho’s team at Old Trafford.

Mkhitaryan showed glimpses of quality, but he failed to convince the manager to make him one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Since moving to the Emirates, the winger has made four appearances in all competitions, including two Premier League starts.

The 29-year-old has created four assists so far, three of which came in a convincing 5-1 rout over Everton.

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Following Thursday night’s 3-0 victory over Ostersunds in the Europa League, the fans voted Mkhitaryan Man of the Match.

On Twitter, some claimed that the Armenian is better for them than Sanchez was.

Barcelona could be about to make a summer move for unsettled Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld, according to reports, with the Belgian unwilling to resign with Tottenham unless they meet his mammoth £180,000 a week wage demands.

Alderweireld’s representatives are understood to be searching for a deal with the same kind of financial incentive as Liverpool signing Virgil Van Dijk, although the club are adamant that they will not pay any player over £100,000 a week.

With talks at an impasse, the only question now remaining is whether Spurs can afford to lose the domineering centre-half. The continued rise of Ben Davies and defensive reliability of Alderweireld’s compatriot Jan Vertonghen are cause for comfort for Daniel Levy and the Spurs board, after all.

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Moreover, there is a clause in the Belgian’s contract which will allow him to leave for just £25m in the summer of 2019 should no deal be agreed, so Spurs will want to offload the defender for as much money as possible if there is no deal before then.

Currently valued at £35m by transfermarkt,com, the 28-year-old may find himself sent packing from North London in the summer – but do Spurs fans think it’s high time for their club to cash in?

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Have your say in the poll below…

West Ham United have picked up some decent results since David Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic as head coach, but there is no question that the Hammers are still in a relegation battle.Indeed, Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Liverpool left the capital club in 13th position in the Premier League table – just three points clear of the bottom three.Next up for the Hammers is a massive game away to Swansea City this weekend, and defeat there would really place the club in a pickle.West Ham captain Mark Noble insisted that the players would recover from the defeat at Liverpool when they travel to Swansea on Saturday afternoon.[ad_pod ]The club’s supporters, however, were not too pleased with the midfielder’s comments.Fans do not take kindly to such messages as they would rather a positive performance in the first place, and it would be fair to say that Noble’s words were not received well.A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Liverpool’s seven-game unbeaten streak came to a crashing end at Old Trafford on Saturday after Jurgen Klopp’s side lost 2-1 against Manchester United in the English Premier League.

Jose Mourinho’s outfit have now moved five points ahead of the Reds, who still remain comfortable in the top four.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the away side, who fell to a two-goal deficit before the interval after some weak defending allowed Marcus Rashford to net a double.

Supporters were left fuming with the likes of Dejan Lovren, who struggled to meet the physical presence of Romelu Lukaku in the build-up to both goals. It was another afternoon to forget for the Croatian international.

Fans now want Klopp to strengthen significantly in the defensive area this summer, believing their attack is good enough to take on anyone and their defence constantly lets them down.

Is it time for Lovren to be moved on?

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Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts…

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According to Turkish sports website Turkish Football, Newcastle United have joined Premier League rivals Everton in the race to sign Besiktas midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup, who is rated at £9m by Transfermarkt, this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Turkish Football reports that the Toffees are plotting a move for the 25-year-old, who left for his home country five years ago having failed to make the grade with Arsenal, but the Magpies are ready to hijack their interest.

Turkish Football says that the Tyneside outfit have been scouting the Turkey international throughout the campaign and have sounded out his representatives about a potential move to St James’ Park.

The report adds that Besiktas believe they have in agreement in place for the player to extend his deal which is due to expire at the end of the season, and they will need that to ensure that they receive a transfer fee for the player.

How has Ozyakup done this season?

He started the campaign as a regular in the middle of the park for the Turkish giants, but in more recent times he has found himself on the substitutes’ bench – starting the club’s last five matches in all competitions from there.

The 25-year-old has made 31 appearances in all competitions for Besiktas this term, providing six assists.

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According to WhoScored.com, the main strengths to his game are his passing, his dribbling and his concentration, and he has made 39 key passes in 26 outings in the Super Lig and the Champions League this season, while he has successfully completed 17 of the 24 dribbles he has attempted.

Would he be a good signing for Newcastle?

He certainly could be, yes.

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If the Magpies survive in the Premier League this season and were able to bring a player who knows the English game and has played in the Champions League to St James’ Park – potentially on a free transfer – they would be delighted.

The fact that Ozyakup could bring a goal threat and creativity from the middle of the park – he has 27 goals and 48 assists in 213 appearances for Besiktas – would help the Tyneside outfit from an attacking point of view, but it would surely raise question marks over the futures of Jonjo Shelvey and Mikel Merino, who the fans believe should be playing in a more advanced position than he currently does, with the latter in particular struggling for starts in recent months with Mo Diame preferred ahead of him.