Arsenal will “certainly” offer Jack Wilshere a new contract as Arsene Wenger is a “huge fan”, says Martin Keown.
The England international is currently tied to the Gunners until 2018, with his future as uncertain as those in the same position – such as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
That pair can, however, point to their contribution in 2016-17 and over recent years as reason for fresh terms to be thrashed out.
Wilshere, in contrast, spent last season on loan at Premier League rivals Bournemouth, where he suffered another serious injury as a fractured fibula brought his season to a premature close.
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Keown, though, believes that the 25-year-old will be offered fresh terms back at Emirates Stadium, telling the Daily Mirror: "We know Jack is a special talent.
"His injuries have marred his career. It must be tough for Arsene Wenger to watch. How many times has he broken ankles and had operations?
"His quality isn't in doubt, it's his health that's the issue. There are some big decisions to be made but I would feel he is someone Wenger would try to keep. Somebody that he will try to support.
"They certainly will offer him a new contract."
Former Arsenal defender Keown added on a man who last updated his Gunners contract when signing an £80,000-a-week deal in 2012: "Whether or not the player will get quite the lucrative contract he might have got in the past, or the length of the contract, may be an issue but he [Wenger] will try to support him because he's a huge fan.
"Jack's come through the youth system. He will try and protect him as best he can but what the player needs is luck.
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"He's gone from playing for England to not being first team selection at Bournemouth and that will hurt him.
“He may well have got injured but he sat and watched a lot of football last season when he was at Bournemouth. He needs to get fit again, but we've said that so many times."
Wilshere made 27 appearances for Bournemouth in 2016-17, his best return for three years, but is currently undergoing another period of rehabilitation and will need to prove himself all over again once fit.