Wilshere out until October, is he Arsenal's Owen Hargreaves?

ARSENAL'S summer shows little sign of getting much better after Arsene Wenger was forced to admit that he won't be able to call on midfield general Jack Wilshere until October as the young star's long journey back to fitness continues.

The 20-year-old missed all of last season with an ankle problem and then underwent surgery on his knee in May. He is still working on his fitness in the gym and is only expected to return to light training next month, according to The Guardian.

His manager had previously steered clear of putting a date on his comeback, but admitted earlier this month that he was unlikely to be fit for the start of the new campaign and said: "Any player still in the gym in July is not on the pitch in August, that is for sure."

Now he has confirmed that Wilshere is to miss at least six weeks of the new season, but tried to put a positive spin on the news as Arsenal's tour of the Far East came to a close with a 2-2 draw against Kitchee in Hong Kong on Sunday.

"Hopefully, we will get Wilshere back playing for October," said Wenger. "With Abou Diaby returning, it will be like signing two new players. This season, the squad will be strong and competitive."

However, given Wilshere's track record of injury setbacks Arsenal supporters will be concerned that the player may be out until even later in the season. England fans will also be affected as Wilshere, who has been touted as the missing link in the England midfield, will not be available for World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, which take place in early September.

If he suffers another breakdown people may start to fear for the youngster's long term future in the game. Sports website Bleacher Report fears his injury jinx is an "escalating tragedy" and is already drawing comparisons with another, now largely forgotten, star. "It is hard to forget the similar tale of one Owen Hargreaves," it says. "For whom injury also stopped dead a career in its prime." ·