Wilshere to return for Arsenal in 'three weeks'

Jack Wilshere will be back in time to help Arsenal's push for Champions League football - and to make the cut for Euro 2012.

However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told injury-plagued player to forget about playing in the Olympic Games and target a full Premier League season instead.

"The Olympics destroys the start of the season for us. If he could play, we'd rather he went to the Euros than the Olympics," said Wenger.

Wilshere hasn't played at all in the current campaign due to a stress fracture of his right ankle although he could feature in the closing stages of the season as Arsenal look to clinch a Champions League spot.

Wenger has always been reluctant to put a date on the young England midfielder's comeback from assorted ankle problems, but has now revealed the timescale.

If there are no setbacks, the 20-year-old will return to training with the first team squad in three weeks, with a view to playing in the last month of the campaign.

Wenger confirmed: "Wilshere is back with the ball, and for us that is a huge step - the work we do with the ball is always quite demanding.

"Today we can say, if all goes well now, in three weeks he will be back with the squad. Then, he will take another two weeks to get fit.

"I don't have to hold him back yet because at the moment he suffers a lot for (lack of) fitness. But I think he will play for us this season if he has no setbacks now. His last scan was positive, he should be capable to play.

"As far as the Euros are concerned, fortunately that's a decision I don't have to make. I will only intervene if I believe medically he is at risk.

"He is an England player. If he has played some games before the end of the season it is a possibility. If he has not played at all before the end of the season, I don't think it's realistic."

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