• London Olympics 2012

Wilshere still in picture for London 2012 - Pearce

ESPN staff
April 24, 2012
Jack Wilshere has not featured for Arsenal this season © PA Photos
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Stuart Pearce has risked the wrath of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after declaring that the injured Jack Wilshere remains on his shortlist for London 2012.

Last week Wilshere had ruled himself out of contention for this summer's Olympics after it was confirmed he would miss the rest of the season with an ongoing ankle problem.

However, after Great Britain were drawn to face Uruguay, United Arab Emirates and Senegal in Group A, Pearce insisted Wilshere was still on his 80-man shortlist of players he would consider for selection, but conceded he would not gamble on players who were not fully fit.

"He is on the shortlist," Pearce said. "We will look at everyone individually and check their fitness and the medical people will speak with the clubs.

"We do have to be acutely aware that with an 18-man squad, and possibly six matches in 16 days, all the players are fully fit. You can't be losing two or three to injury, otherwise you will be on the back foot."

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

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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