Arsenal fans took a deep intake of breath after Jack Wilshere endured another injury scare as he stepped up his return for the Under-21s side but the midfielder recovered sufficiently to go on and score in the 2-1 defeat by West Bromwich Albion.
The 24-year-old, who is still hopeful of securing a place in England’s squad for the European Championship this summer, sustained a knock to the knee towards the end of the first half in Boreham Wood but was able to carry on after treatment.
Wilshere has not played since last summer, his last appearance in a competitive fixture coming when he scored two goals for England in the 3-2 win against Slovenia last June.
He then sustained a fractured ankle during Arsenal’s pre-season last August and has yet to feature for the first team this season though he could be in line to face the full West Brom side at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
His manager, Arsène Wenger, said before the game on Monday night: “I have to see how he is compared to all the other competitors for places in the first team. Once he is through, with three or four games at that level, of course you consider him. Of course.”
This was Wilshere’s third game for the Under-21s and it meant he completed 90 minutes for the second time in five days. He also played the full match in a 3-1 defeat at Swansea on Thursday.
His goal came in the 51st minute after he controlled the ball in the area and lifted it over the West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
