Wenger cautious over Wilshere

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned it could be at least another month before Jack Wilshere will be ready to make his first-team return.

Wilshere missed all of last season due to an ankle injury, but he returned to full training with Arsenal for the first time in 14 months on Thursday , much to the delight of his team-mates and Wenger.

While his return to training is a big step in his rehabilitation, Wenger will not rush the England international and does not expect to have him available until at least the end of October.

“We need to manage him well. He needs a few games in the reserves. Wilshere had ups and downs. He was focused, especially in the last three months. We have to be a bit cautious,” Wenger said.

“We are so pleased that Jack is back in full training. It has been 14 months and that’s a long time for someone at his age.

“It’s an eternity, but it’s great news. We have to give him a few training sessions to see how he copes and responds to it.

“That’s the delicate, sensitive stage – to choose when to bring him in and out. We’ll have to handle that day by day.”

Wilshere posed for photographs with his team-mates as he returned to training and Mikel Arteta believes the midfielder’s return to will boost the entire squad.

“It’s going to be a big boost for everyone. I know what it means when you’ve been out for a long time. You can see how excited Jack is to get back in training and show how good he is,” Arteta said.

“He’s going to bring something different to the squad, more quality to the team, and that can only be better for everyone.”