Paul Scholes has questioned Jack Wilshere’s ambition after the Arsenal midfielder’s deadline day loan move to Bournemouth, despite receiving offers from Serie A.
Wilshere’s career has been dogged by injuries over recent years, keeping him out of all but three of Arsenal’s Premier League games last season.
He still managed to make England’s squad for Euro 2016, though, as an error-strewn substitute cameo in the humiliating last-16 defeat to Iceland did little to justify the 24-year-old’s selection.
However, the 24-year-old was left out of Sam Allardyce’s maiden World Cup qualifier against Slovakia this week.
Manchester United legend Scholes lamented the fact that links to a move to Serie A did not come to fruition for Wilshere, who he warned should expect no guarantees under Eddie Howe.
Scholes told Sky Sports News: “I would have liked to have seen him, if he did have to leave Arsenal, go to a big club like Roma.
“Get some experience abroad, I think that would have been great for him and would have been great for the England team as well.
“Just because he is going to Bournemouth, doesn’t mean he is going to play all the time.
“He has to perform whatever club you are at, whether you are at Bournemouth, Arsenal, Man United or Roma.
“You still have to perform to play first team football. I’m sure there are other players at Bournemouth who are saying ‘I’m going to be playing instead of Jack – I want his place’.
“It always comes back to whether he is fit. I don’t know how his ankles are – I know he struggles with them.
“If he stays fit then there is no doubt he is the top player there. But he should be playing for a top three or four club in England and that is what he should be aiming for. I just worry a little that he has set his sights too low.”
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