• Premier League

Wilshere hits out at 'reckless' critics

ESPN staff
September 6, 2014
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Jack Wilshere has hit out at the "reckless and aggressive" criticism directed at him, taking particular aim at former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp's comments given his own struggles with injury.

The Arsenal midfielder's promising career has been interrupted by a string of injuries in recent years, restricting him to just 21 England appearances since making his debut four years ago.

Jack Wilshere has come under fire for his recent displays for club and country © Getty Images
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With his progression stalling, Wilshere has come under fire from former players such as Paul Scholes, Jamie Carragher and Redknapp.

Sky Sports and Daily Mail pundit Redknapp said last month he couldn't see the 22-year-old improving at the moment, adding: "Jack Wilshere's problem is Jack Wilshere. He's not performing. He's got to take games by the scruff of the neck like two years ago - there's no excuses anymore."

Those comments have irked Wilshere, who admits he is disappointed to have been shown a lack of understanding by a man whose own career was curtailed by injury at 31.

"I listen to the people who I work closely with," Wilshere said ahead of Monday's European 2016 qualifier in Switzerland. "With all due respect, if anything, I think Redknapp should have a little bit of [empathy]. He was injured more than I was.

"It's easy for someone to go on television and say, 'He should be doing this, he should be doing that,' but if you look back, he was injured just as much as I was - maybe more than I was - and he was never injured at my age as well and it does take a lot of mental strength [to come back].

"So to hear people go on TV and say, 'He's got to be doing this or that' - I don't need that. I listen to people like the boss here, Gary Neville - people who talk a lot of sense and can help me with my game."

Wilshere revealed earlier this summer that had asked England coach Neville for Scholes' number to ask for advice following the former Manchester United midfielder's criticism of him last season.

While the 22-year-old accepts criticism comes with the job, he says there is no point if the comments aren't constructive.

"It doesn't hurt me as much," Wilshere said. "It probably disappoints me a little bit more. It's easy to go on TV and say: 'He's got to do this or that,' 'If he's not fit he's not in the starting lineup' and 'He's got to get fitter.' That's the easy way out.

"I heard what Robbie Savage said and that was, if you like, the first ex-player to give me constructive criticism. I respected that. I'll take criticism. I know that's part and parcel of football, but when it's just reckless and aggressive, I don't listen."

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