The Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to miss the start of the Premier League season with the ankle injury he suffered in training on Saturday.
The 23-year-old was omitted from the side that defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Wembley in Sunday’s Community Shield, and afterwards Arsène Wenger said the player would only be out for ‘days’.
However, the injury is worse than first feared and Wilshere is unlikely to be fit to face West Ham at the Emirates Stadium in Arsenal’s first league game on Sunday.
Wilshere has a history of ankle and foot injury problems, and missed almost six months of last season after surgery on his left ankle.
The news will also be of concern to the England manager, Roy Hodgson, with Wilshere having starred with two goals in the 3-2 win in Slovenia in June, and two more Euro 2016 qualifiers to come in early September against San Marino and Switzerland.