Wilshere remains on Olympics list

Jack Wilshere
25 April 2012

Jack Wilshere remains on Great Britain's 80-man list of contenders to feature at this summer's Olympics.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed last week that Wilshere would miss Euro 2012 after failing to recover from an ankle injury that has kept him out of the entire season and that appeared to rule him out of the Games this summer.

But Great Britain coach Stuart Pearce has confirmed he will not rule anyone out until he is satisfied they cannot play, and said: "He is on the shortlist. We will look at everyone individually and check their fitness and the medical people will speak with the clubs."

The news is bound to alarm Wenger who, like Sir Alex Ferguson, is not convinced by the merits of Olympic competition in the first place.

Ferguson has already spoken of the havoc that could be caused to Manchester United's pre-season preparation by a large number of British call-ups, in addition to David de Gea and Javier Hernandez, who will be playing for Spain and Mexico respectively.

However, Pearce believes this attitude undermines the merits of a tournament which it is now known will pitch Britain into battle with Senegal, UAE and Uruguay following Tuesday's group stage draw at Wembley.

"I am acutely aware that club managers have a duty of care to their individual clubs," said Pearce.

"But once the tournament starts, excitement will be generated and people will see the greater good it will do for the individual players and the feelgood factor it brings.

"Plus we will be returning the players to their clubs before the season starts, so all they will be missing are pre-season friendlies.

"If I was a player, I would much prefer to be playing at Old Trafford, Wembley and the Millennium Stadium, competing for a medal and then going back to my club. The lift that would give me would be fantastic."

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