Wilshere would appreciate honesty from Arsenal boss Wenger

Jack Wilshere wants honesty from Arsene Wenger and says his “phone is always on” as the World Cup edges closer.

The Arsenal midfielder missed out on a recall to the England squad for the recent friendlies against Germany and Brazil despite seemingly having put his injury woes behind him.

Wilshere has struggled to keep fit for the past two years and spent last season on loan at Bournemouth in an attempt to play more football.

The 25-year-old has been playing for the Gunners in the Europa League and Carabao Cup this season but has seen his Premier League game time limited to 25 minutes across two substitute appearances.

After omitting Wilshere from his squad, Southgate pointed to his recent injury record as well as the fact he is not a regular in Arsenal’s first-choice line-up as reasons behind the decision.

Southgate also said he had spoken to players who had missed out on the squad and later added it “would be good for me to call him or meet him, just to clarify where I am”.

But Wilshere, who again played the whole 90 minutes as Arsenal lost 1-0 in Cologne on Thursday, says that conversation never materialised.

Asked if he had spoken to Southgate, Wilshere said: “No. He’s got my number and he hasn’t called me yet.

“If he wants to call me, my phone is always on. He didn’t put me in the squad and had that to focus on.

“He said in the press what he wanted me to do: get in the team and play regularly and that’s what I’m trying to do. That’s all I can do.”

Wilshere’s situation at Arsenal also remains up in the air as his contract expires at the end of the season and he admits to being “frustrated” at not playing in the Premier League.

Coupled with his World Cup ambitions, that means he could yet look to leave the Emirates Stadium in January.

Wilshere will sit down for a frank conversation with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger in the coming weeks.

“I want to play in the Premier League so of course I’m frustrated but the team are playing well,” he said.

“I think we (he and Wenger) will have to talk about that (his future) when it comes down to it.

“We have got a month until then and me and the boss will probably have a conversation before then and see what happens because obviously when January comes I have only got six months left on my contract.

“We will see what happens between now and then, I will talk to the boss. We have known each other for long enough and we have a good relationship where we can be honest with each other so I’m sure we will be and then we will go from there.

“I’ve said before that I want to stay here and play. I’ve been at this club for 10 years. I don’t have to say how much this club means to me, how good they have been to me. But at the same time as well, the boss has got to be honest with me and I’m sure he will.”

Wilshere and his team-mates drew a blank in Cologne but will still finish top of their Europa League group heading into next month’s round-of-32 draw.