Before Bournemouth’s big FA Cup tie the midfielder discusses England anger, hunger and what he has learned about his body
When Jack Wilshere was plotting his next move, the prospect of reaching another FA Cup semi-final and ultimately adding to his two winners’ medals were the kind of things that had him licking his lips. “Watching the FA Cup in my house was always big and, growing up a West Ham fan, I remember when they got to the final and lost – Stevie G scored a banger,” he says, recalling Steven Gerrard’s display for Liverpool in 2006. “It was my dream to play in it, let alone be lucky enough to win it twice.”
Bournemouth, for whom Wilshere signed in January until the end of the season, are the only team outside the Premier League left in a competition that carries fond memories for a midfielder who lifted the Cup with Arsenal in 2014 and 2015. Where does his mind first go when reliving those moments? “To the parties after,” he says, laughing, with that cheeky grin.
