Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere says he is feeling sharper with every game
Jack Wilshere showed on Saturday that he is almost back to the form that has ignited so much excitement from England fans with a man-of-the-match performance in Arsenal's 2-0 victory over West Brom.
The teenage midfielder returned only six weeks ago after 17 months with a serious ankle injury, but is getting back to full match fitness and reckons he is almost there.
Arsene Wenger is amazed and delighted to see his young playmaker back at this level so early, admitting he throught it would be February next year before Wilshere returned to full form and fitness.
And the 19-year-old said: “I've got maybe 90 per cent of my sharpness back, but with every game I feel better and better. When I get up to 100 per cent then I can really show what I can do.
“It's a new experience for me, having a long-term injury. I spoke to players who've been there, and they said that when you come back, you have a good game, then another when you're not so good.
“In my first few games my adrenaline was up and that's what got me through, but then it's not as simple as that and there is more to it.”
Wenger admits he needs to manage Wilshere's return to fitness carefully, and says resting the teenager for Arsenal's trip to Greece last week paid dividends.
The Arsenal boss said: “I have to be cautious. It was good to leave him at home in midweek because today was the first time I have seen him very close to the player he is and we have to see if there is any reaction.
"It is good to play him two or three times and then give him one-game breather.”
Wenger acknowledges the buzz around the player, admitting: “He excites me too. I played him when he was 16 because I saw something in him. I am just happy that a boy of 19 can play football again after being out for 17 months.
“He analyses his game and what he can do. He works hard in training and the surprising thing for me is that he is ahead of schedule in his recovery. I expected him to be back at his best next February but he looks much earlier.”
But Wenger also admitted: “When he plays at that level it is difficult to leave him out.”
Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Joe Hart, Glen Johnson and Danny Welbeck are all in the hunt for the England Player of the Year Award and it's up to you which star wins.
Place your vote here before the closing date of 13 January 2013. You can also vote for the England Men's Under-21s and Women's Senior Players of the Year, too.