Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal and England must not go “crazy” over Jack Wilshere’s return to action.

The midfielder played his first match for more than a year in the Under-21s at West Brom on Monday afternoon, having been sidelined by a niggling ankle problem and then knee surgery.

Wilshere, 20, is set for another run-out next week against Reading but Wenger continues to stress it must be a cautious rehabilitation for the 20-year-old.

“Jack needs a few games, progressive build-up to get his body used again to competition, to shocks, to fights, but he is doing extremely well, the situation looks very good,” said Wenger, whose side aim to get their English Premier League campaign back on track at West Ham on Saturday following defeat by leaders Chelsea.

“We have to be cautious, not crazy, because of his talent you are always pushed in a situation where you would like to rush him back, and we have to resist that.

“The next match should be next week and he is working very hard.

“The body is like that, when you have been out of competition for 14 months it takes a long time to find your sharpness back. You cannot rush it.”

Arsenal head to Upton Park without first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and midfielder Abou Diaby but are hopeful German centre-back Per Mertesacker can shake off a virus – which would be a boost ahead of facing England forward Andy Carroll, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.

Wenger expects another stern test against the Irons.

“They have a good balance, they are efficient, they are a good mixture I must say between direct play and playing on the ground,” he said.

“Technically they are quite sound in midfield, they have Carroll and [Carlton] Cole up-front who can go for high balls.

“We know we will have a big challenge there, we know we will only get away with the points if we perform at our best.”