We’ve held off on the whispers about Jack Wilshere’s fitness over the last couple of days until we could find out a little more, but it seems more and more likely that the midfielder’s setback is worse than first feared.

Last week, at his press conference ahead of the Stoke game, Arsene Wenger revealed Wilshere’s return, believed to be imminent, was going to be delayed.

“He is progressing slowly,” said the Arsenal manager. “He had a little setback and I have to know about it, but I can’t tell you much more as I have no medical information.”

On Sunday, Steve Stammers wrote in the Sunday Mirror about how Wilshere could require surgery to have a metal plate inserted in his leg, but said a decision would be made in the next two weeks. Kinda hedging his bets there in terms of time-frame, but there you go.

Now today, the Telegraph say that the the 23 year old has been provisionally booked in for an operation this week, with club sources insisting no final decision has been taken yet.

What does seem apparent is that Jack isn’t likely to be back any time soon. The most recent injury was sustained in a training ground challenge with Brazilian defender Gabriel, and his previous absence was caused by a shocking challenge from Man Utd’s Paddy McNair.

While there will be those who target their frustration at the player himself, it’s hard not to have sympathy for a young man whose football career has been blighted by injury.

It might well be a case that Arsenal have consider his position in the squad at some stage, but for now we’ll keep fingers crossed that this doesn’t result in another lengthy absence from the game.

More as it’s available.

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