Wilshere ditches the crutches

Published Nov. 18, 2011 7:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

The teenager went under the knife two months ago after suffering a stress fracture in his right ankle during the summer. He has not appeared for the Gunners yet this season, but is set to step up his recovery after he wrote on his Twitter page: "First day without crutches in a while! Feels so good!" Wilshere had originally hoped the injury would heal itself with the help of a protective boot, however, after undergoing surgery he is due to return in the new year.