Reports: Jack Wilshere out for 3 months

Reports this morning suggest Jack Wilshere will spend at least 3 months on the sideline with his ankle injury.

If true, it would be a major blow for a player who had been given the go-ahead to return to light training after consulting an ankle specialist on Monday.

The central midfielder has failed to start a competitive game this season as a result of a persistent ­problem with his right ankle.

The club are taking the situation very cautiously, with the star currently wearing a ­surgical boot which will apparently stay on for another month as the club consult  other specialists worldwide for the best solution to the problem as they avoid rushing him back to insure the injury doesn't persist.

It comes at a bad time for both club and country as England seek to gain qualification for Euro 2012 and Arsenal look to recover from one of the worst starts to a season in recent history.

The club feel that the long-term well-being of Wilshere is paramount and Wenger acted on the last day of the transfer window to ensure he has ­substantial cover in central midfield, signing Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun respectively.