Jack Wilshere gives hope for return to Arsenal team this season

Wilshere was released by Bournemouth at the end of last season and is yet to be signed by a new club, so has returned to his former side to keep his fitness up.

It was expected to be a short-term move for the England international but he remains at Arsenal and suggestions are emerging that he could regain a place in the first team.

The Gunners are not in great need of Wilshere’s services right now, but with Thomas Partey and Mohamed El Neny set to join the Ghana and Egypt squads respectively for the African Cup of Nations, they may well be short in midfield.

The tournament runs from 9 January – 6 February and Wilshere could still be the man to fill in, he certainly wasn’t ruling out the possibility when presented with it.

‘I went there, very kindly invited by them to come and train, get my fitness back, which I’ve done,’ Wilshere told talkSPORT.

‘I am [training with the first team]. They’ve got a lot of midfielders, they’ve got Ainsley Maitland-Niles…’

Asked whether he has played for the Under-23 side, Wilshere’s replied, ‘no.’ But asked whether he could do so soon, he said, ‘maybe.’

Pushed on whether there is a chance he could play for the first team again he said: ‘Erm, I don’t know mate. Honestly, I don’t know.’

It is a long way from confirming a first team return with the Gunners, but the 29-year-old is certainly not ruling it out either.

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