Jack Wilshere injury: Arsenal midfielder to return in Under-21 tie against Newcastle on Friday
Wilshere has not played a competitive game since representing England last June
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsene Wenger backed Jack Wilshere to put his bad luck and bad press behind him tomorrow night when he returns to action for Arsenal Under-21s. Wilshere has not played a competitive game since representing England last June, after breaking his leg in August, but he will face Newcastle United Under-21s at the Emirates on Friday.
Wilshere’s week has been slightly soured by the news that last Saturday night he was spoken to by the Metropolitan Police about an altercation outside a nightclub in central London. Wenger insisted at his press conference this morning that it was a “a completely private matter”, but both he and assistant manager Steve Bould have spoken to the 24-year-old England midfielder about his behaviour, not for the first time.
“There was no training session the next day [last Sunday], he had a day off, and you can accept that sometimes the players go out when they are free the next day,” Wenger said. “The incident looks to have been taken out of proportion a bit, and of course we like to keep these matters internal.”
Wenger fiercely defended Wilshere’s professionalism and said that bad luck, rather than bad behaviour, was what had slowed down his progress. “He is very serious and very dedicated,” Wenger said. “I invite you to come in every day and watch him work. You will understand that he is very, very dedicated. The only thing that could stop him from having the career he could make is injuries. He has a history of injuries, but I hope he can get rid of that. Then he will have the career he deserves.”
Wilshere will be joined by Tomas Rosicky in tomorrow night’s Under-21 game and Wenger said that with more Under-21 exposure after that, Wilshere could return to the first team. “I am a bit cautious because of history,” Wenger said. “Let’s not rush it too much, and let’s see how he responds to the next game. He has a big part to play in the game tomorrow night, and hopefully he will come through well. I am a bit cautious with that.”
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