EXCLUSIVE: How Bournemouth have managed Jack Wilshere

Interestingly, many commentators said he had been ‘dropped’ for the Cherries' last two games, which showed a fundamental lack of understanding about the way players are managed following injuries.

Roberts added: “Literally with Jack we would say, ‘this session he can do so many metres, that’s it, until we’ve built him up to a stage where he is able to cope with the load’.

“We still have players – he’s not the only one – who we need to manage during the week. Certain players, the way our manager likes to train, cannot do three heavy days in a row, they’re not able to do that. We have a progressive manager and really good buy-in from him in terms of being able to pull players in and out of training.

“If Jack’s not doing time on the field he’ll be doing other things to get the aerobic load, like an altitude session on a bike. It’s not that he’s not doing anything, it’s just that he’s not on his feet while he’s doing it.

“Everyone is an individual, everyone has a different genetic make-up, a different style they run, a different style they play.

“Some players are more robust than others. Jack’s also been unlucky, he’s had quite significant injuries, and we know that once you’ve had an injury your biggest risk is a previous injury.”

Roberts, who was the South Africa rugby team’s doctor before joining Bournemouth in 2015, emphasised how closely the club had worked with Arsenal when it came to Wilshere’s training regime.

“Arsenal have been amazing, we’ve worked very closely with them,” he said. “We communicate regularly with them in terms of where Jack is, what he’s doing, how things are going.

“Gary [O'Driscoll, Arsenal's team doctor] and I have been in very regular communication. They have been as instrumental in managing him as we have. I know Gary from a rugby background, because he was doctor for the Lions when they toured South Africa in 2009.”

Tim Gabbett, a Brisbane-based applied sports scientist who has worked with Barcelona, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, devised the acute-chronic load ratios principles used by Bournemouth.

“A lot of this is based on work done by Tim Gabbett, called the acute chronic ratio,” Roberts explained.

“Dan Hodges, our head of sports science, has been driving it and has been really good. It’s been interesting. We’ll unpack that at the end of the season and look back. It’s often easier when you look back and say 'this player, perhaps we should have managed him a little better', but that’s hindsight. Every player is an individual. You’ve got to do it individually.

“There are certain times with certain players when we’ll see on their numbers that they haven’t done enough sprints or high speed runs and we’ll pick a session in the week when they have to do those.

“That’s protective, protecting them against injury going forward. It’s a real science in terms of getting it right.”

Aside from his physical performance, Roberts said Wilshere had impressed everyone with his attitude and leadership skills since joining last summer.

“His contribution off the field has also been amazing - he's a great asset for the club,” he said.