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29 March 2024

Wilshere injury blow for Arsenal

Published
By Agencies

Jack Wilshere looks certain to miss England’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales after Arsene Wenger revealed he expected the midfielder to be out for another two to three weeks.

Wilshere suffered a setback in training on Monday during his recovery from the ankle injury that was initially expected to rule him out for one week but now looks certain to sideline him for a minimum of six.

The midfielder’s absence would be a big blow to England manager Fabio Capello, who is already without Steven Gerrard for the crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers with Bulgaria on September 2 and Wales four days later.

It is also more bad news for beleaguered Arsenal boss Wenger, who said: “No chance he will be fit for England.

“It’s not ideal for us on the day we sell (Samir) Nasri.”

He added: “I don’t know if we are back to square one or for how long he will be out.

“He’s in a (protective) boot again, so that means he will at least be out for two or three weeks.”

Wenger claimed Wilshere’s problems dated back to England’s qualifier against Switzerland in June.

The 19-year-old was thought to have recovered over the summer but he limped off after just seven minutes of the Gunners’ Emirates Cup match with New York Red Bulls last month.

Club doctors predicted a week’s absence but the injury turned out to be more serious and he was forced to wear the protective boot, which he is now wearing again.

Wenger said: “He had a setback. It’s a hotspot on the bone of his ankle that if you continue to play, it can lead to a stress fracture. So we had to stop him.

“He felt the first sign in the second half of the game against Switzerland.

“After that, during the holidays, it was all right and then his pain increased when we were on tour in Asia.

“We had two good test days on Friday and Saturday.

“Yesterday morning, we had a test with the squad and he felt it again.”