Eddie Howe insists Bournemouth still want to sign Jack Wilshere on a permanent transfer despite starting him on the bench for a fourth successive match in their goalless draw with Southampton.
The midfielder’s career is in limbo; out-of-favour at Arsenal to the extent he opted for a season-long loan to join Howe in order to play games, yet Bournemouth’s fine recent form — Saturday’s stalemate was their fourth match unbeaten — that has pulled them away from the bottom three has coincided with Wilshere being dropped from the starting line-up.
His omission from Gareth Southgate’s most recent England squad, even when the national team were short of quality central midfielders, spoke volumes about his diminishing reputation that he forged as a 16-year-old breaking into Arsenal’s first team and has seen shattered by several long-term injuries.