Arsenal's Jack Wilshere to have further surgery

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will go under the knife again in the coming days, but his manager Arsene Wenger has stressed that it is just a routine procedure.

The England international has missed much of the last 18 months due to a series of leg injuries and sat out most of March to monitor a recurring problem with his left ankle.

Wenger has admitted to rushing Wilshere back to action from his recent layoff, and a decision has now been taken for the 21-year-old to have another operation on his troubled foot.

Wilshere will miss England's friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil, but is expected to be be ready to take a full part in Arsenal's pre-season.

"Jack will have small, mild surgery," Wenger told the club's official website. "It is a very small, small, small one. It is to remove a small pin. It will not be a problem.

"He will need very minor surgery, but we manage that as far as we can until the end of the season. At the moment, we use him only in games when I feel he is really needed.

Wilshere has made 31 appearances for the Gunners this season, scoring twice.