Jack Wilshere could make first start of the season for Bournemouth against Manchester City

Jack Wilshere is set to be handed his first start of the season when Bournemouth take on Manchester City on Saturday (17 September). The on-loan Arsenal midfielder has made three substitute appearances thus far in the Premier League with two of those being before his departure from the Emirates Stadium.

Eddie Howe is not keen to rush the England international and is being cautious owing to Wilshere's past injury record and he was expected to again start on the bench after undergoing a scan on his ankle on Monday (12 September).

"With the outstanding quality he has, there's no doubt about that," Howe said when asked whether he wanted to start Wilshere for the Cherries clash against Pep Guardiola's side, according to Sky Sports.

"We'd like to see him in the team as quickly as possible. It's a delicate balance between rushing him into the team and the long term. We have to think of that."

However, according to The Sun, the midfielder has trained with the squad since Tuesday and felt no warning signs with regards to his ankle which could see him make his first start of the season. Wilshere has made it clear that his main priority is to remain fit and play as many games as possible for Bournemouth during his season-long loan from the north London club.

Francis Coquelin has backed his Arsenal teammate to come back stronger from his temporary spell away from the club and is hoping he can remain injury free and show the Premier League his true potential, one that saw him break into the Arsenal first-team as a 16-year-old.

"He will be a big miss because we talk a lot off the pitch as well. I've dropped him a few texts to wish him good luck at Bournemouth," he told Arsenal's official site. "It's going to be a great thing for him to be able to play a full season, staying injury-free.

"We all know his talent, it's just a case of him staying injury-free. I know he had a strong pre-season so he will be alright. He's going to show the whole Premier League what he can do so he can come back even stronger.

"He will be focusing on having a great season at Bournemouth. It was a tough decision for him because he had a few options, but if he's decided to go to Bournemouth it's because he's 200 per cent committed," the French midfielder explained.