Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed that his belief in God helps him to get through his periods out of action with injury.

The 25-year-old - currently on a season-long loan at Bournemouth - suffered a fresh injury setback over the weekend as he limped off with an ankle problem during the Cherries' 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

"I'm a Christian but not one who goes to church every Sunday or who prays all the time," he told Kicca. "Of course I believe in God and stuff but I'm not that religious.

"Sometimes, you know what it's like, you're sat there thinking about everything, and everything runs through your head and you think: 'Oh I wonder if there is a God.' And I think there is. I do believe in that side of Christianity.

"I think it has helped me through injuries a little bit. One thing that keeps me going through injuries is getting that feeling of running back on the pitch. Them long dark days in the gym, getting in at eight, getting home at five, when you're watching the boys come in at 10, training and getting off.

"It's hard but what keeps me going is knowing the fact that I will be back on the pitch and if I do this work to the best of my ability, I'll probably be back on the pitch quicker."

Wilshere has spent 901 days out injured since the start of the 2009-10 season, the equivalent of almost two-and-a-half years.