Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Jack Wilshere can put his latest injury setback behind him to play a major part this season after it was confirmed the England midfielder needed surgery to fix a hairline fracture in his left leg.

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Wilshere, 23, has battled through a string of fitness issues which have halted his progress in recent campaigns.

Following further medical examinations on the injury suffered in pre-season, the decision has now been taken that an operation is needed to properly correct the problem which will see a small plate inserted into the bone, and a rehabilitation time of around three months.

Wenger, who is already without forward Danny Welbeck until at least Christmas following knee surgery, moved to allay fears over Wilshere’s long-term recovery prospects.

Speaking in Croatia ahead of the Champions League Group F opener against Dinamo Zagreb, the Arsenal boss said: “Like every player, he wants to play football and he is disappointed, but he has shown in the past he can deal with that. I think he was determined to do it quickly and come back as quickly as possible.

“We are still at the start of the season. We are now mid-September, so after three months – mid-December – he can be back. There is still a long way to play after.

“This kind of injury is not a kind of injury which can damage your career. It is just a bone that did not heal well.

“They need to put a little clip in. That is nothing major, not a career-threatening injury.”

Wenger continued: “I am not a specialist. I think this was just an accident which was not linked with his ankles. It just a bone injury.”