When Daniel Agger caught Jack Wilshere in Wednesday’s international friendly between England and Denmark, it appeared to be a nasty knock that he would be able to run off.
Even shortly after the game, Wilshere reassured everyone that it was just a bit sore and that he should be fit again soon. Not even he had a clue of how unfortunate things would get.
Yesterday, an Arsenal statement read: “Jack Wilshere has suffered a hairline fracture to navicular bone in his left foot… Following initial scans carried out by the FA ( Football Association) on Wednesday night, further investigation by Arsenal’s medical team has discovered a crack to a small bone in Jack’s left foot — the navicular, an area of his foot which he has not been injured before.
“Jack will now require a period of approximately six weeks’ of rehabilitation.”
Arsenal are in a tricky run-in and everyone knows that they could have done with Wilshere to help them through their packed fixture list. The silver lining here is that it is not a recurrence of the injury problems that have blighted recent seasons for him.
And this is not a clear break like a fracture. A hairline fracture (also known as a stress fracture) is where the bone is broken but not separated. It is just a crack that looks like a hair at the x-ray.
So, it is all about recovery for the 22-year-old Gunner. This is an injury that demands discipline and patience. If he tries to speed things up by exercising, the healing time increases.
Since it occurred on the top of his left foot, a part which naturally bears the body’s weight, he will have to minimise using the foot as much as he possibly can. Depending on the finer details of his injury, he may need a protective boot or clutches until it fully heals.
With the World Cup looming, his lack of mobility over the next couple of months raises questions about his place in Roy Hodgson’s squad. He really needed some club football to further his case before the squad is announced on May 13.
Now, these six weeks are just for letting the hairline fracture heal. Additional time will be required before he is match fit. The total time he needs looks like being very much longer than the remainder of the domestic season.
Wilshere is one of those young stars England needed in Brazil. His style of play adds another dimension to England because he is such a technically gifted player. He is one of the few players available to Hodgson who can dribble through the middle of the park and make things happen.
Another big plus that Wilshere brings is his versatility to play a deeper or more advanced. In a tournament where games are packed and squads are limited, players like him are invaluable.
The injury is a big blow for Arsenal because of the important games ahead. It is also difficult for England who may need a player of Wilshere’s style to change a game in Brazil,
But it is Wilshere himself who stands to miss the most. His chance to play a major role in the remainder of Arsenal’s might have gone, but hopefully he can win his race against time to be in Brazil.
