Wenger - Wilshere a month away

Jack Wilshere: Arsenal midfielder is about a month away from making his return to playing

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is about a month away from making his long-awaited return to playing.

Wilshere has not featured for the Gunners since May 2011 and the 20-year-old was sidelined for all of last season due to an ankle injury.

He subsequently underwent knee surgery at the end of the last campaign, but is now edging nearer to a first-team comeback for the Gunners.

Wenger is pleased with how the England international is looking in training and suggested Wilshere should return around the start of October.

"He is looking very good in training," said Wenger after Arsenal's 2-0 win at Liverpool. "Close, it depends what you call close.

"I would still give him a month. But it looks very good. In a month he should be starting to play again."

Wilshere's return will only swell the options available to Wenger in midfield and it is a problem the Arsenal manager is looking forward to.

He added: "Look at our midfield; you have Arteta, Cazorla, Diaby, Wilshere, Coquelin, Rosicky, Ramsey. There is a fight for places and there is quality."