Jack Wilshere needs to leave Arsenal if he wants regular first team football and the chance to make a claim for the England squad for the World Cup in Russia next year according to former Watford striker Odion Ighalo.

The 25-year-old midfielder was once seen as the future of English football but a series of crippling ankle injuries has seen his career stall over the past couple of seasons which culminated in a loan spell at Bournemouth last season.

He returned to the Emirates in the summer but has seen limited playing time under boss Arsene Wenger so far this season. It is believed that the Arsenal boss is nervous about using the talented playmaker and fears another injury could be around the corner.

Ighalo believes a player of Wilshere’s talent should be getting more chances in the first-team and elaborated on the subject during an interview with the Premier League Daily.

“For him to get more games and to be ready for the World Cup, he has to play more. If he’s still there and he’s not getting the opportunities, I’d advise him to leave.

“He’s a very good player, he can’t be there sitting on the bench. If he cannot play at Arsenal, he can play at any other big team in the Premier League.”

Wilshere made his comeback for the Londoners in the victory over Cologne in the Europa League back in September and has played in seven other games since then.

However, he has only appeared twice in the Premier League so far this campaign which were the 5-2 hammering of Everton and the 3-1 defeat at the hands of league leaders Manchester City.

With the transfer window coming in January it will be interesting to see what Wilshere does. It does seem like a long shot in terms of him trying to force a move but it is World Cup year and anything could happen.