Arsene Wenger to ask Roy Hodgson not to pick Arsenal's Jack Wilshere

By Robert Summerscales, Reporter | 29 October 2012

Wenger to ask Hodgson not to pick Wilshere

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that he will ask England boss Roy Hodgson not to select Jack Wilshere for next month's friendly with Sweden.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he will ask England boss Roy Hodgson not to select Jack Wilshere for next month's friendly with Sweden.

The 20-year-old midfielder ended his 14-month spell on the sidelines by playing for 70 minutes of the Gunners' 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Wenger is delighted to have Wilshere back in contention, but he believes that the player should be allowed to return to full fitness with his club before returning to the international scene.

"It is a friendly - Jack should skip that," said the Frenchman. "What is important now is that he gets back to full fitness for this team. Once he is back he will play for England again.

"I will have a little word, of course. Anyway, Roy will call me about him. A full game would be too much at the moment. I will speak about it with Roy, but what is important now is that he gets back to his level."

Wilshere has been capped five times at senior international level.