MIDFIELDER Jack Wilshere insisted he would “certainly like” to play back at a higher level with Cherries.

Wilshere was snapped up by the Dorset club on a free transfer in January on a deal until the end of the season, having previously cancelled his contract at West Ham.

He has since played 12 times for Cherries in all competitions, finding the net against Crawley and Birmingham.

While on loan from Arsenal during the 2016-17 season, Wilshere helped guide Cherries to their highest ever Premier League finish.

He played 27 times as former boss Eddie Howe’s charges finished ninth at England’s elite level.

And while speaking at a virtual event held by Bournemouth University, for its multimedia journalism students, Wilshere admitted he would like to represent Cherries in the top-flight again.

He said: “We’ve got a team here that I think could compete in the Premier League in terms of individual players.

“We’ve got some unbelievable talents here who should be playing higher, and I know that they would want to do that in a club like Bournemouth. I’d certainly like to do it with Bournemouth again.

“Last season was a strange season for everyone with COVID and what everyone went through and I think Bournemouth were probably a bit unlucky to be relegated.

“To bounce back would be massive I know for the club but as well for the players and for myself.”

Wilshere has played 182 times in the Premier League, scoring eight goals and registering 18 assists.

The two-time FA Cup winner is currently experiencing his first taste of football in the second tier.

He said: “I’ve really enjoyed it to be honest. I had a spell out for three or four months and that time away really made me realise how much football actually means to me.

“Obviously, I came down here just to train and it turned out to be a little bit more and I was over the moon. I love this place. I love being in Bournemouth.

“I knew it was a different a league and I spoke to people who had played in this league and they told me how demanding it is, but I’ve enjoyed it.

“I like the fact that there’s a lot of games. If you have a bad result or a bad performance you’ve got a game two or three days later to try and put that right.”