Wilshere returns from wilderness

Jack Wilshere has returned to full training with Arsenal following a 14-month injury lay-off.

The England midfielder has been missing after picking up a series of injuries which saw him miss the entirety of last season, including Euro 2012 and the Olympics.

However, the 20-year-old is now drawing closer to a return to first-team action, much to the delight of his manager Arsene Wenger and team-mates.

Wenger told the club’s official website: “We are so pleased that Jack is back in full training. It’s been 14 months and that’s a long time for someone at his age. It’s an eternity, but it’s great news.

“We have to give him a few training sessions to see how he copes and responds to it. That’s the delicate, sensitive stage – to choose when to bring him in and out. We’ll have to handle that day-by-day.

Wilshere’s agent Si Bayliff posted on Twitter: “Delighted to say that Jack Wilshere was back in full 1st team training today. Understandably he is a very excited young man today.”

Arsenal team-mate Mikel Arteta believes Wilshere’s return will give his team-mates a lift early in the season.

“I think it’s going to be a big boost for everyone,” the Spaniard told the club’s official website.

“He’s going to raise the quality in training. The fans – they’ve been waiting a long time.

“I know what it means when you’ve been out for a long time. You can see how excited Jack is to get back in training and show how good a player he is.

“He’s going to bring something different to the squad – more quality to the team – and that can only be better for everyone.”

Wenger also revealed another long-term absentee, Emmanuel Frimpong, has also returned to training after damaging his cruciate ligament on loan at Wolves last season.

He added: “We also have Emmanuel Frimpong who has returned to full training this week, which is great news as well. Emmanuel has also been out a long time, but is progressing well.”