Wilshere could have metal plate inserted in leg

Mark Holmes
Jack Wilshere: Only a reserve player for Arsenal?

Jack Wilshere: Only a reserve player for Arsenal?

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere could have a metal plate inserted in his leg if his latest injury does not heal within the next fortnight.

Arsenal had initially hoped Wilshere would be available to face Stoke on Saturday, but Arsene Wenger revealed prior to the game that the England international had suffered another setback.

“I have not seen Jack Wilshere in the last two or three days,” Wenger said. “He is progressing slowly and I can’t tell you much more about it.

“It is slower than expected as I expected him to be back and available after the international break, but unfortunately he will not be available for Saturday. He had a little setback.”

Now, according to the Sunday Mirror, Arsenal have decided to send Wilshere to see a specialist if he has still not recovered in a fortnight. The outcome, the newspaper claims, could be that the 23-year-old has a metal plate inserted in his leg, a move which would mean at least another six weeks on the sidelines.

That would effectively rule him out until Christmas, including England’s European 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania.