EPL injury update: Arsenal's Wilshere out for three months following ankle surgery

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out of action for three months after undergoing ankle surgery, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

The 22-year-old England international damaged ligaments during the league match against Manchester United on Saturday.\

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"Everyone at the club wishes Jack a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch as soon as possible," Arsenal said on their website (www.arsenal.com).

Wilshere's career has been plagued by injuries, mainly to his ankles, and he has played fewer than 100 league games since making his debut in 2008.

He missed the entire 2011-12 campaign after suffering a stress fracture to his ankle which ruled him out for 17 months.

"Ankle needed surgery in the end, went well thanks to the main man James Calder! Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight," Wilshere said on Instagram.

"You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticises you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive."

It was another blow for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who has been badly hampered by injuries during a poor start to the season in which Arsenal have slipped to eighth in the table.

Midfielder Mikel Arteta sustained a calf injury in Wednesday's Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, joining Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, Mathieu Debuchy and Theo Walcott on the sidelines.

The victory over Dortmund did book Arsenal's place in the knockout stages of Europe's premier club competition but Wenger will be desperate to climb the league standings, starting with a trip to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

United defender Evans closes in on return

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has played 60 minutes in a reserve match and could return to manager Louis van Gaal's injury-hit back line against Hull City on Saturday.

The Northern Ireland international has struggled with a succession of niggling injuries this season, giving Van Gaal a major headache with Phil Jones, Rafael, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo also sidelined for long spells.

"It's nice to get 60-odd minutes under my belt," the 26-year-old Evans told MUTV.

"It's been a long time coming. I didn't expect to be out this long so I'm pleased to get some minutes. I thought the lads played well and it was an enjoyable game to be part of.

"I've been training for a week or two now but it's taking me time to get my fitness up as I've been out for so long."

Evans is United's longest-serving defender following the departures of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra at the end of last season.

Argentine Rojo has also started training again after recovering from a dislocated shoulder but will not be ready to face Hull.

Van Gaal played 19-year-old Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett, 20, in the 2-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday which lifted United to fourth in the table.