Jack Wilshere is currently a free agent after being released by Bournemouth following their failed promotion bid, and former Newcastle defender Steve Howey believes that Steve Bruce should look to offer him a pay as you play contract to prove his fitness and quality.

Bruce knows that he will have to deal in this transfer window with one armed tied behind his back as he has just £10 million to spend on new players despite his squad needing obvious reinforcements, but bringing in a free agent of Wilshere's ability could work out.

The former Arsenal midfielder has struggled to keep himself fit for the majority of his career with moves to both West Ham and Bournemouth failing to help get his career back on track, but with a limited budget this month Bruce might feel like it's worth the risk, a bit like when he brought Andy Carroll back to the club in 2019 on a similar deal.

Free agents and loan signings will be the bread and butter of any deals that Newcastle complete this summer with such limited finances available, and Howey believes that Wilshere could take up a pay-as you-play deal to get another chance in the Premier League, something he spoke exclusively to Football FanCast about:

"If it was me, and I was in his position, then I would take that because I don't think there are many clubs that are going to offer him a great deal of money, given his history of injuries.

"Me personally, I'd go down that route, because you would be at a top-flight club with magnificent fans, and you'd be playing in the top flight."

It would be a surprise to see any Premier League club take a plunge on Wilshere considering he has missed a staggering 1470 days through injury during his career, and it is a shame because he has shown glimpses of class and even Pep Guardiola labelled him as a special talent back in 2017.

For Newcastle, signing a midfielder with injury problems would not likely make sense considering they have a large squad anyway and are flooded with central midfielders.