Jack Wilshere believes both he and Joe Hart proved their strength of character by embracing loan moves at the start of the season.
The pair, who are on England duty ahead of Friday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland, had big decisions to make after returning from the abject disappointment of Euro 2016.
Hart was told by new Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola that he did not feature in his plans, while Wilshere's patchy fitness record meant boyhood club Arsenal could no longer offer him guaranteed first-team football.
And so the pair opted to seek new paths, Hart joining Serie A side Torino and Wilshere trading the Gunners' title tilt for a season with Bournemouth, moves that have arguably ensured the former remains England's number one and helped the latter earn a recall to the fold.
"People were always going to look negatively at the loans Joe and I did because that's the way it was. I wasn't going to play at Arsenal, he wasn't going to play for City, b ut it says a lot about our characters," Wilshere told the Evening Standard.
"I could have sat at Arsenal on the bench, coming on now and then, but I wouldn't have been involved in the England squad. I could have had a few days off during the international break.
"But we both felt differently to that. We wanted to go elsewhere and show we still had something to offer at the highest level and in this England team.
"There are different reasons for going on loan. For Joe it was quite simple, he wasn't playing. He's the type of character that wants to play. He could have easily stayed at Manchester City and picked up his wages. He is not like that, he wants to be playing and improve.
"It was different for me, I wanted to prove my fitness to everyone. I hadn't played football regularly in a long while and I missed that feeling of going out on the pitch and playing in the Premier League."
Wilshere expects to see other international calibre players seeking temporary solutions to club problems and feels his return under Gareth Southgate is an encouraging sign.
"The way football is going now there are going to be a lot more loans where it's not about development, it's about the player wanting to play or because someone has fallen out of favour at their club," he said.
"It (his recall) shows no matter where you are, they give you a chance if you're playing well. That should be an inspiration for England players."
Source: PA
