Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle admits they came close to re-signing Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere this season.
Wilshere enjoyed an impressive spell at the Reebok last term.
Coyle recalled: "Before he came here people said he was not big or strong enough play central midfield but we saw right off he could look after himself.
"On his first day of training my skipper, Kevin Davies, decided to welcome him in his unique style.
"Kevin is not someone who shies away from the physical side of the game, and he engineered a couple of toe-to-toe collisions with Jack.
"But Jack picked himself up and proceeded to give as good as he got. I knew from that moment he was capable of mixing it with the best, and so it has proved.
"It is fantastic to see how far he has progressed in just a year, but you could sense he was going to be special.
"We were within a whisker of getting him back on loan this season. But he got a chance in pre-season with Arsenal, and it's no surprise to me that he has established himself in the team very quickly, and is making his mark at international level too."
