Jack Wilshere’s injury nightmare continues as Arsene Wenger unsure when Arsenal midfielder will return

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed Jack Wilshere is no nearer a return to action.

The injury-plagued midfielder has been sidelined since the start of the season after suffering a fractured left fibula. 

Wilshere had been expected to make his comeback over the festive period, but has yet to rejoin training with his teammates.

Wenger has now conceded there is no chance of the 23-year-old returning before February and may not even be fit by then.

The latest setback for Wilshere leaves his hopes of earning a spot in the England squad for Euro 2016 squad in serious doubt.

"I said February but honestly I don't know," the Arsenal boss said after being pushed on a comeback date for Wilshere.

"I let him do his recovery. It's going slowly. Once he goes again, goes outside to train, once he is back again into sharp, hard work physically, you count five or six weeks, so at the moment he is not there yet."

The news on Wilshere is a blow for Arsenal ahead of Bournemouth's visit - a match Wenger's men approach reeling from a humbling 4-0 loss at Southampton on Boxing Day.

"I believe what I say to my players is between my players and myself," Wenger said.

"These players have fantastic spirit and they can show that in 48 hours.

"We are in a job where we have to respond. We want to respond from disappointments.

"Unfortunately, there's no possible career without disappointment. Nobody, not even the best players in the world, can have that.

"It's down to how you respond and I trust my players to respond in a very strong way on Monday."

Despite the Boxing Day loss to Saints, Wenger remains confident his side have the attitude and aptitude to challenge for the Premier League crown.

The Frenchman accepts they are a little short at the moment, but suggested he could look to the academy rather than the transfer market to fill the gaps.

''Yes, we are a bit short - I agree with you because of the injuries we have,'' Wenger said.

''But sometimes as well the solution is inside and you have to accept that because we are a club which has always given a chance to players we have educated.

''People forget that sometimes and always want new faces. But we are a club with a tradition on that front as well and we have top players inside.''