Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated that youngster Jack Wilshere will not be rushed back into the first-team after spending 14 months on the sidelines with injury, according to The Daily Mail.

Wenger had dismissed speculation that the Arsenal ace could be in line for a return against Chelsea on Saturday and says Wilshere will play for the Gunners’ under-21 side against West Brom on Monday.

The Frenchman believes that Monday’s game is another important step in the recovery from the 20-year-old’s persistent ankle problems, “It is another important step, but he has not played for 14 months so we have to calm your impatience a little bit.”

Wenger says that he is personally delighted that Wilshere is on the mend, “It is fantastic for him, especially for him.” Wenger also remarked that it had taken a lot of mental strength for Wilshere to recover from his injury woes which subsequently saw the midfielder miss the whole of last season and Euro 2012, “When you are that age and are out for such a long time, that is absolutely massive to take.”

With the international break forthcoming, England have a double-header in which Wenger is reluctant to let Wilshere partake in. The Gunners boss joked that whilst he would have reservations letting his starlet feature in the Poland match, he would happily let him play in the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier, “I think that will be too early for him. He has not played for 14 months. Who does England play, San Marino? I think he can play in that game.”

The return of Wilshere will certainly come as a welcome addition for Arsenal. Now 20, the talented Wilshere is the youngest ever league debutant for the Gunners after making  his debut aged 16 at Blackburn, and is also only the fifth sixteen-year-old to play in a Champions League game.

Meanwhile, the Arsenal boss has received further injury boosts this week after confirming that captain Thomas Vermaelen will return for the Chelsea game after missing last Sunday’s draw at Manchester City due to illness.

Additionally, dogged midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong came off the bench in Arsenal’s 6-1 victory over Coventry last night following a serious knee injury he sustained whilst on loan at Championship outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers last season. He is expected to once again start from the bench for the arrival of the European champions.

Despite this, Saturday’s London derby will come too soon for Frenchman Bacary Sagna, who like Wilshere, is back in full training.