Arsenal: Jack Wilshere in line for second U21 start in bid to return to Gunners first team

Jack Wilshere will further his chances of making the Arsenal first team before the end of the season by making his second appearance with the Gunners U21 side following his return to action against the Newcastle United reserves on Friday (8 April). The game against the Magpies was the midfielder's first outing of the season after he suffered a fracture in August 2015 on the eve of the Community Shield game against Chelsea.

According to the Mirror, the England international will line up for the reserves on Thursday (14 April) as he bids to return to the Arsenal senior team before the end of the season with a view to making Roy Hodgson's squad for the European Championship finals in France later this year. The England manager is set to name his squad on 12 May and is keen to include Wilshere in the 23-man travelling party.

The former Liverpool boss, however, has made it clear that he will have to prove that he is 100% fit in order to make the Euro 2016 squad. The England international played just over an hour against Newcastle, and is set to start against Swansea on Thursday and the report claims that Wenger could be tempted to field him once more for the Gunners U21 side's final game of the season against West Bromwich Albion, as they seek automatic promotion to Division 1 of the U21 Premier League.

The 24-year-old midfielder's return will be a big boost for the manager, whose team is now battling to confirm a place in the top three of the Premier League after their title hopes disappeared following a 3-3 draw against West Ham United on Saturday (9 April). Manchester City, whom Arsenal face in the penultimate weekend of the season, are just two points behind following their latest win over West Brom.