Arsenal winger Theo Walcott says 'buzzing' Jack Wilshere is as good as ever

Jack Wilshere is the centre of attention at training yesterday (Getty Images)

Jack Wilshere "hasn't lost it" according to his Arsenal and England team-mate Theo Walcott.

The 20-year-old midfielder returned to full training last week after 14 months on the sidelines and Walcott is clearly delighted, telling The Sun, "it's nice to see him back".

Wilshere's last competitive game for the Gunners was in May 2011 before he suffered a serious ankle injury that has been dogged by setbacks.

Wilshere's return to first-team action will not be rushed, with manager Arsene Wenger saying last week, "we have to be a bit cautious. We need to manage him well. He needs a few games in the reserves."

Arsenal fans will be hoping that when he does, he returns in the kind of form that marked him out as one of the brightest midfielders in the Premier League. When asked last week if Wilshere would return to his former level, Wenger said, "it is not possible, it is certain," a sentiment echoed by Walcott.

"He spots things that no one else does and he hasn't lost it, trust me. He's buzzing, he's getting stuck in and that's what he wants," he said.

It has been suggested Wilshere will be back in action by the end of next month.