Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he "overplayed" midfielder Jack Wilshere

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Jack Wilshere was "overplayed" when he was younger.

Wilshere has suffered numerous injuries since making his debut in 2008, and Wenger now says that caution is required as the 23-year-old recovers from a hairline fracture.

"I always bring him back when he says he is ready and when the fitness coaches say he has the quantity of work behind," he told reporters. "Jack is back in training but I thought at the start it will be six to eight weeks but it could be three to four so that is positive news.

"You come back to the relationship with your fitness and medical people that is confirmed by what I see in training. Maybe when he was younger we overplayed him because he was such a good player but now we are cautious with him."

England international Wilshere has made 169 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 13 times.