Jack’s hot to trot for Hammers

JACK WILSHERE insists he is fighting fit and ready to attack the new season.

West Ham’s injury-hit midfielder made just eight appearances last season following his arrival at the Hammers from Arsenal.

He had an operation to repair the latest in a series of ankle problems in December.

But Wilshere, 27, has been put through his paces during West Ham’s

from SIMON MULLOCK in Shanghai pre-season trip to China and believes the hot-house conditions in the Far East have helped his bid for fitness.

Wilshere (pictured yesterday, right) said: “I had a good pre-season last year and I felt good early in the season.

“You can train as much as you want, but you only get fitness from playing the games, so I want to get as many games as I can to get ready for the season.

“I missed so much of last season after being injured. It was devastating. I missed travelling with the team and being part of it.

“But it’s behind me now, it’s a new season. I’ve had a good couple of weeks and now I just want to push on.

“You forget how difficult it is to train and play in these conditions, but when you get back to England, you definitely benefit.”

West Ham, beaten 4-0 by Manchester City in the Premier League Asia Trophy in Nanjing on Wednesday night, face Newcastle in the third-place play-off game in

Shanghai this morning.