Jack Wilshere pays former Arsenal physio Declan Lynch to fly over from Ireland twice a week to help him improve his fitness.

Lynch left Arsenal in 2015 to work with Bath Rugby club after being appointed in 2012 by Colin Lewin when he was working with London Irish. He was replaced at Arsenal by James Haycock who signed from Huddersfield.

But, at the time of Lynch’s departure, it was clear he’d struck up a special bond with both Wilshere and Theo Walcott, both of whom he clearly spent a lot of time with due to their various injury problems.

As such, Wilshere now pays the Irishman to treat him privately, with the blessing of West Ham and his manager Manuel Pellegrini who is no doubt keen to get more for the man he offered a three-year contract to despite his obvious fitness problems.

“Wilshere clearly feels the sessions with Lynch, held away from the training ground, are paying dividends,” writes the Daily Mail. “And boss Manuel Pellegrini has no objection as long as he has a fit Wilshere at his disposal.

“Following his departure from the West country [Bath Rugby Club], Lynch set up a clinic in Limerick in the Republic of Ireland and kept in touch with Wilshere.”

Since leaving Arsenal last summer, Jack has played just 445 minutes for West Ham across nine games.

56 of those minutes came in West Ham’s first game of the season against Man City which they lost 5-0.