LONDON -- Jack Wilshere needs at least one more game with Arsenal's under-21s before being considered for a first-team return, Arsene Wenger has said.
Wilshere is nearing a full comeback from a fractured ankle after completing the full game with the U21s on Thursday, his second appearance of the season after playing 65 minutes with the youth team last Friday.
With Arsenal having just five more games to play after Sunday's home match against Crystal Palace, the midfielder is desperate to return in time to prove his fitness ahead of the European Championship.
Another massive step on my way back to full fitness. My first 90 minutes in 10 months. Feeling good. Thanks for the... pic.twitter.com/ecYCARLeYA
- Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) April 15, 2016
But his manager says Wilshere still has more steps to complete before making a full return.
"I think he needs one more game at least now; we play again on Monday with the U21s and he should be involved in that," Wenger said on Friday at a news conference. "Then I have to see how he is compared to all the other competitors for a place in the first team. Once he is through with three or four games at that level, you consider him of course."
Arsenal play West Bromwich Albion on Thursday night in a game that was postponed earlier this season. But if Wilshere plays on Monday with the U21s, Wenger might wait until the following Sunday's game at Sunderland to include him in the squad.
Tomas Rosicky also played with the U21s on Thursday as he nears a comeback from a thigh injury. The Czech veteran was taken off after 70 minutes, but Wenger said both midfielders had come through the game unscathed.
"I have no news today, but after the game we had no report that anybody had a problem," he said. Wenger added that Arsenal's other two long-term absentees -- Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain -- could both return to full training next week.
The squad from last weekend's West Ham game should all be available against Palace.