​Jack Wilshere could miss the first three weeks of the new season with the ankle injury that kept him out of Arsenal's Community Shield victory over Chelsea on Sunday, reports The Daily Mail.





The 23-year-old, who missed five months of last season with a separate ankle injury, is expected to miss the Gunners' first two league games against West Ham and Crystal Palace and is a doubt for Liverpool's visit to the Emirates on August 24.





That would also make Wilshere a huge doubt for England's early September fixtures against San Marino and Switzerland in European Championship qualifying.





The midfielder came back strongly at the end of last season, scoring in Arsenal's final day mauling of West Brom and finding the net twice in England's narrow win over Slovenia in June.





The injury, which was picked up in training on Saturday, is to the same right ankle that Wilshere had operated on in September 2011 following a stress fracture, but is opposite to the one damaged by a Paddy McNair tackle in November's defeat to Manchester United.





Injury problems have plagued the youngster's career and only once, when Wilshere appeared 35 times during the 2010/11 Premier League season, has he played more than 25 top flight matches in a campaign.





Meanwhile, Arsenal have been boosted by the return of striker Danny Welbeck to training.





The England striker missed the final month of last season with a knee injury and was forced to miss all of his side's pre-season fixtures after failing to recover.





The 24-year-old is also a key player for his country, six goals in his last seven appearances for the Three Lions.



