Jack Wilshere’s recovery from injury is going well and he will be available for the World Cup, according to his manager Arsene Wenger.
The 22-year-old has not featured since 5 March after suffering a hairline fracture in his foot during England’s contest with Denmark at Wembley – but the Arsenal boss confirmed Wilshere’s recovery is going to plan.
"He is starting to jog this week. I would think two to three weeks," Wenger said.
"I spoke to Roy Hodgson and I told him that Wilshere will be available for England. He will be just polished for England.
"Jack can be the positive surprise."
Fact file
- Born: 1 January 1992
- Place: Stevenage
- Arsenal debut: vs Blackburn Rovers (September 2008)
- First England cap: vs Hungary (August 2010)
Wilshere, capped 15 times by England, is on schedule to be available next month, just in time for the FA Cup final against Hull on May 17, before attentions turn to Roy Hodgson's final plans for Brazil.
The midfielder has endured several injury setbacks since breaking into the Arsenal first team as the club's youngest league debutant at the age of 16 years and 256 days when coming on against Blackburn at Ewood Park in September 2008.
But Wenger feels Wilshere has become a stronger personality for the whole experience.
"It is the most difficult thing in the world to deal with. You need to be competitive which is to always been in competition," he added.
"Jack has been in and out this year, but I think they have sorted out the problem now. I hope from now on he will always be available.
"Jack is a football man. He is the kind of guy who if you speak to him about anything, he has a natural football understanding.
Wilshere has not featured since picking up an injury on 5 March
"He watches the game and he analyses very well what is going on, and on that front he has learnt when he has been injured, from watching the games and from the problems you can face in the game."
And on England’s chances in Brazil, Wenger said that despite being placed in a difficult group – the confidence they will gain should they come through could be pivotal.
"England has a very difficult group and it is a double problem, but it can be a double chance also because if you come out of a group like that then the belief is really strong," he said.
"But first they have to deal well with the situation, they have Italy and Uruguay in the group and they have to get out of it."
