"Jack Wilshere needs one more [reserve] game" - Wenger

Jack Wilshere still needs another reserve game before he is ready for the Arsenal first team, according to boss Arsene Wenger.

The wonderkid, 20, has been making his comeback in the club’s Under-21 team in the last few weeks after 14 months out with an ankle injury.

Stuart Pearce wants to take Wilshere with England U-21s to the Euro 2013 finals in Israel next summer. But Wenger believes the midfielder should focus on making his senior comeback for his club.


The Frenchman said: "It's a bit premature. Let's wait until Jack comes back. He has not played for 14 months.

"He works very hard and is doing well but let's not go too far." He added: “He needs one more game, maybe on Monday night for the U21s, then he will be back.”

When asked whether Wilshere would be afraid of going into challenges after his injury, Wenger replied: “There is no apprehension. He is 80 per cent match fit.”

Wilshere’s England colleague Theo Walcott — who is still yet to sign a new deal with the Gunners — will miss Arsenal’s clash with Norwich this weekend after his injury picked up with England. Walcott claimed he felt like he had been “hit by a bus” when he suffered a bruised lung in the World Cup qualifier against San Marino last week.

Wenger said: “Walcott is out because of the lung problem. His injury is progressing well and there’s a chance he could be back next week against QPR.

Laurent Koscielny will also miss Saturday's trip to the Canaries.