Jack Wilshere: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in no doubt midfielder can go to Euro 2016

The 24-year-old has failed to play a single minute this season

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere pictured during pre-season training (Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger hopes that Jack Wilshere can go to Euro 2016, even though the England midfielder has yet to play in a season which is coming into its final weeks.

Wilshere is now finally back in full training, having spent eight months recovering from a broken leg sustained in training the day before the Community Shield last August. Wenger has pencilled Wilshere in to play for Arsenal Under-21s against Newcastle United next week before he returns to the first team.

England manager Roy Hodgson has kept the door open to Wilshere all season, saying that he would take Wilshere, who he rates very highly, as long as he proves his fitness over the run-in. Wenger has traditionally been protective about Wilshere’s international commitments but now thinks the 24-year-old is so in need of competition that he would like Hodgson to take him to France.

Wenger confirmed at his press conference this morning that he thinks Wilshere can make the Euro 2016 squad, and that he would welcome it. “Once he is completely fit and competitive he will be available for Arsenal and for the national team,” Wenger said. “Why not?”

“You want your players to compete,” Wenger explained. “When you’re a footballer you want to compete at the top level and what is important is that Jack, who is frustrated enough, regains confidence. It’s very important for his confidence that he can go to the Euros and he can play. It’s also important to have a player of his quality available.”

While Wenger did not think Hodgson can take a squad full of players returning to fitness, he said Hodgson could afford to pick one player as gifted as Wilshere. “If he is completely fit, it is not a gamble,” Wenger. “When you’re a national team coach, you can take a gamble on one player but certainly not on five. He has to consider the whole situation. You can certainly take a chance on just one player.”

Wenger also confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should recover from injury in time for the summer tournament. “He should be available,” Wenger said. “At the moment he’s not out running but there is no special concern from him, just to recover from his ligament strain. He should be available [for the Euros].”