‘Beautiful’ Gilmour has bright future at top for Wilshere
because he is not the biggest, strongest or quickest. He makes the game look so simple and that is what is so impressive about him.
“A boy of that age, to have that maturity on the ball and be able to make the game look easy, to be able to beat players when you are not that strong and that quick is also something I like to do.
“When you are smaller and haven’t got that strength, you need to get closer to players, to feel them. It’s beautiful to watch and I love watching him. It looks as though he has a bright future in the game.”
Wilshere made just 125 appearances across 10 seasons for the Gunners after constant injury constraints plagued his Emirates career.
The 28-year-old now plys his trade across the city at West Ham and with football in the UK on hold, Wilshere has had to battle a groin problem from his home in a bid to be up to speed when the Premier League returns.
On life in lockdown and the widespread mental health issues that have come along with it, he added: “I’m not really one who would talk about it with people, but even since last year I’ve changed a little bit because I had a conversation with my missus and she said to tell her because talking to your missus, or someone you love, if you don’t have a missus or a fella, just talk to someone.
“Pick up the phone to your mum or to your dad, or a friend, and just see how they are and tell them how you are. Just feel the love.
“One thing I’ve found that helps, for me, I’ve realised during this lockdown, is that I’ve had a few moments that I’ve thought this is tough, but before I go to bed I write down things I need to do the next day to give me a routine, a goal for the day.
“Small things, like clean out a cupboard or go for a run. Small things can really help.”
SCOTLAND midfielder
Scott McTominay admits he is delighted how his career is panning at Manchester United after conceding he could have left on loan.
The 23-year-old struggled to make a regular impact in the first team under Jose Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and had been linked with a temporary switch to Celtic in January 2019.
Then Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers refused to deny the Scottish side’s interest in the playmaker and said: “He’s a fantastic talent, but there’s nothing more to say.”
However, Marouane Fellaini’s switch to Chinese outfit Shandong Luneng left a window open for McTominay and the Lancaster-born player has not looked back after becoming one of the first names on the United team sheet.
Speaking to the Official Manchester United Podcast, McTominay said: “About a year and a half ago there was a time where it [a loan move] might have been a possibility and then somebody leaves or something like that, and then your opportunity comes and you have to take it.
“You hear loads of stories about boys going on loan and different things like that and I always had it in my head that I don’t want that.
“I want to be showing myself here first and if it doesn’t work here then you go somewhere else.
“You have to always remember where you come from in that respect and always appreciate what people do for you. I feel like that is the culture that is brought through for us.”