Arsenal injury news: Jack Wilshere's Euro 2016 hopes rest on injury recovery

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere could face the heartbreak of missing out on a place in the England team for the European Championships in France later this year owing to his latest injury setback, which has kept him out of the 2015/16 campaign thus far. The England international is yet to kick a ball in anger this season after suffering a hairline fracture in his tibia just before the start of the season.

According to the Mirror, the midfielder is in a race against time to get fit and feature for Arsenal in the hope of convincing England manager Roy Hodgson that he is worthy of a place in the team. Wilshere was expected to return in January, with the player even hinting that a Christmas return was possible but he suffered a setback, with the manager admitting that March was the earliest he could expect to be back in contention for a place in the first team.

The 23-year-old Englishman played a key role in the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign having been deployed in the deep lying midfielder role and will be hoping to keep his place once he returns. Wilshere will not have it easy as there are a number of midfielders vying for a place in the team with Liverpool's Jordan Henderson, Tottenham duo Ryan Mason and Dele Alli and Manchester United's Michael Carrick among a number of players being considered by the manager.

Wenger has confirmed that Wilshere, who along with Santi Cazorla are the only two first-team players currently out injured, has started running but it will be a minimum of six weeks until he returns to full competitive fitness.

"Santi is still not outside. Santi is end of March. Jack is starting to run. Once you move out, from the first day you count six weeks to be competitive and build up stamina and intensity. You need six weeks to be ready fitness-wise," the French manager said, as quoted by the Mirror.