Wilshere: Listening to advice from his manager

The England international, 20, has been out for more than a year with niggling ankle and knee injuries, but came through another run-out in midweek as his rehabilitation steps up a gear.

Wilshere is next set to feature in Arsenal's Under-21 side at Everton, and if all goes well he will then be included for the trip to Reading on October 30 - which precedes a Premier League game at Manchester United.

England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce would like to take Wilshere to Israel next summer for some valuable tournament experience, having seen his plans to include the player for the last European Championship shelved because of fears over burn-out.

Wenger, though, insisted the midfielder must take things one step at a time.

"I believe at the moment that is a bit premature. Let's wait until Jack comes back. He has not played in the first team for 14 months," said Wenger, who takes his side to struggling Norwich on Saturday evening.

"Do you know what that is like, 14 months out of competition? Jack works very hard, he is doing well, but let's not go too far."

Wenger added: "There are two aspects. One is the apprehension to go into challenges when you have too many injuries, on that front we are at 100 per cent. We even have to calm him down. He goes for every challenge and has no apprehension.

"Then you have the physical front - he is okay there, then you have the match fitness which is 80 per cent.

"He needs one more game, maybe Monday night with the reserves, then he should be back."

While Wilshere is, like Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, still eligible for the under-21s, Wenger believes once a player has progressed through into the senior national team they should not drop down again.

"I never believe that a player, once he has gone up to the top team, plays well with the under-21s. It does not exist - I have not got one example," he said.

"That is why I believe England has to make a decision - is Jack in the first team and not in the under-21s?"

Arsenal head to Norfolk looking to pick up from where they left off before the international break following a battling win at West Ham.

The Gunners last lost at Carrow Road on Boxing Day 1984 and are unbeaten in 11 league games since.

Although the Canaries may be struggling for a first league win under new boss Chris Hughton, Wenger warned against taking their challenge lightly.

"The team is hungry and knows that there is no room for complacency and no reason why we should be complacent," said Wenger, who will be without injured England duo Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott as well as France defender Laurent Koscielny on Saturday.

"It is an away game in the Premier League and everyone is in danger everywhere in the Premier League, so that should keep us on our toes."

Wenger continued: "Norwich gave us very hard games (last season) and we need to switch on again.

"If we do well it will have a big impact on our position. We will then have played eight games, five away from home, so for us to get a good result tomorrow is important."