Jack Wilshere out for six weeks

 

Arsenal's Premier League hopes have taken a massive blow with the news England midfielder Jack Wilshere faces six weeks out after suffering a hairline fracture to his left foot.

Wilshere sustained the problem to the navicular bone in Wednesday's friendly victory over Denmark at Wembley Stadium.

Wilshere frantically waved his arms in pain after his foot was caught by Daniel Agger in a robust challenge in the 12th minute of the midweek international.

The 22-year-old carried on but was withdrawn just before the hour mark in the 1-0 win and a joint statement by Arsenal and the FA said: "Jack Wilshere has sustained a hairline fracture to the navicular bone in his left foot.

"Wilshere suffered the injury during England's international match with Denmark on Wednesday night at Wembley Stadium, in which he played 59 minutes.


"Following initial scans carried out by the FA on Wednesday night, further investigation by Arsenal's medical team has discovered a crack to a small bone in Jack's left foot - the navicular, an area of his foot which has not been previously injured.

"Jack will now require a period of approximately six weeks' rehabilitation, before starting to regain his match fitness."

The Englishman will miss the FA Cup quarter-final against Everton on Saturday, the Champions League last 16, second leg trip to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, the derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, March 16, the trip to Chelsea the following week and home visits of Swansea and Manchester City.

The Premier League game against Everton at Goodison Park on April 6 ahead of a possible FA Cup semi-final on the weekend of April 11 to 13 are also likely to come too soon for a return to first-team action for the England international.

Arsenal's league return trip to Hull on April 19 looks the most likeliest date for Wilshere's comeback, under a month before England manager Roy Hodgson names his provisional World Cup squad on May 13.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger must already do without Wales captain Aaron Ramsey, who is being aimed at a return from a problematic thigh injury in the derby at Spurs.

And Wilshere's club and country colleague Theo Walcott is out for the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup third-round victory over their White Hart Lane rivals.