Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will have a minor ankle operation at the end of the season, ruling him out of England’s friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.
The 21-year-old is set to be a substitute for the fourth league match in a row for Tuesday’s visit of Wigan.
“Jack plays with painkillers. I use him only when it is really needed,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
“He will have small surgery after the season. It’s a two to three weeks job.”
Wilshere, who has seven England caps, missed the 2011-12 campaign because of ankle, foot and heel injuries, and was sidelined for several weeks with an ankle problem after the defeat at Tottenham in March.
It meant he also missed England’s World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro the same month.
Wenger confirmed the procedure, which will remove a pin inserted during previous surgery, means Wilshere would be able to return for Arsenal’s pre-season campaign, which includes a tour of Asia.
The Football Association was aware of the fitness concerns surrounding Wilshere ahead of the announcement on Thursday of Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the games on 29 May and 2 June.
An Arsenal win against FA Cup winners Wigan on Tuesday will move them back into fourth spot – the last remaining Champions League spot – while the Latics need victory to keep alive their hopes of escaping Premier League relegation.
“Wigan is a bit repeated every year; they always recover in the period where everybody says they are finished,” said Wenger.
“Of course they have got out in recent years – just – but when you play with that fire every year it can be dangerous.
“What Wigan have done as well is always discover players – you have to give them credit for that. With a small budget they find very good players.”
