Fraser’s move up in the air
Wilshere thumbs-up to online support
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JACK WILSHERE has urged West Ham fans to make some noise – on social media.
With Premier League spectators locked out of games, the former England midfielder wants the Hammers faithful bubbling to life online.
Wilshere insists his side must hit the ground running to beat the drop and says the supporters are vital, even if none will be in the ground. The 28-year-old, who should be fit to face Wolves at home on Saturday, said: “Fans want to get behind their team and we’re going to need the loud ones on social media more than ever. “We’re in a relegation battle and I’ve never had the experience of going through it, but we have players that have and they have mentioned it will be strange playing with no fans in the stadium. “But in this day and age there are other ways of feeling that love and they can make themselves heard on social media and we’re going to need that. “Fans are like us. It’s almost as if you’ve forgotten all that happened in the rest of the season.” West Ham lost three of their last four games before the season was suspended but there were signs of a revival in a win over Southampton and narrow loss to Arsenal.
Even so, they are only out of the bottom three on goal difference and Wilshere insists they need a fast start this weekend.
The injury-prone former Arsenal star is back in full training after groin surgery and eager to impress as he is yet to play under manager David Moyes.
But Wilshere claims that individual goals go out of the window when it comes to keeping West Ham in the Premier League.
He said: “The main point is staying up.
“If we play well individually, we’re going to play well as a team and we’re going to pick up points.
“We need to start quickly from the first game because there are only nine games.
“You can’t say, ‘We need two or three games to get going,’ there is no time for that.
“We have to be ready as a team to get as many points as early as possible, and then it’s down to the individual to impress the manager.”
RYAN FRASER’S dream move to Tottenham is in jeopardy despite him rejecting a short-term contract extension to stay with Bournemouth.
The 26-year-old wants a move to a top-six club, with Spurs his preference.
But Starsport understands Tottenham’s interest has waned and Jose Mourinho is yet to sign off on a move for Fraser when he becomes a free agent next month.
Spurs are already well-equipped for Fraser’s position, as are Arsenal, who targeted Fraser last summer.
That leaves Fraser in limbo but he is expected to attract plenty of interest as a free agent, with West Ham also keen.
Fraser has managed just one goal and four assists this time around and faces a backlash from fans for abandoning the club’s relegation battle.
He is still eligible to face Crystal Palace on Saturday and Wolves next Wednesday but boss Eddie Howe is unlikely to field a player who has decided his future lies away from the club.
Club captain Simon Francis, Andrew Surman, Artur Boruc and Charlie Daniels have all agreed extensions to the end of the season.