Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Jack Wilshere will play for the Under-21s side tomorrow as he steps up his return from injury.

The 24-year-old has spent the season on the sidelines with a broken fibula sustained during the Community Shield last August but will play a significant part as the young Gunners welcome Newcastle United U21s on Friday night.

Speaking to the press this morning, Wenger revealed that he would be "cautious" with bringing Wilshere back into first-team action.

"Ideally I would have loved him to be available the whole season," he said. "We have to be cautious because of his history. Let's not rush it and see how he performs tomorrow night.

"He works very, very hard, the [outlook] is good. He will have a good test tomorrow night."

Wenger added that Wilshere would probably be given another U21 game before returning to the main team, meaning that he could be back for the Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on April 17.