11.05.2014 20:29 h

Football: Wenger backs Gunners duo for England World Cup duty

Arsene Wenger expects Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to be fit enough to play for England at the World Cup.

England manager Roy Hodgson will name his 23-man party for next month's finals in Brazil on Monday and both Arsenal men have been regular members of previous squads.

Midfielder Wilshere, 22, came off the bench for the final 27 minutes of Arsenal's 2-0 win at Norwich City on Sunday as the north London side ended the Premier League season in fourth place.

Winger Oxlade-Chamberlain did not feature at Carrow Road but is expected to resume training following a groin problem on Wednesday, which would also put him on course for a place in Arsenal's FA Cup final squad.

The Gunners take on Hull City at Wembley on Saturday and another absentee through injury, France midfielder Abou Diaby, made his comeback from more than a year out with a knee injury via a substitute stint against Norwich.

Arsenal manager Wenger made it clear he had no qualms about Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain being whisked away from the treatment table to the World Cup finals in the space of a few weeks.

"Players like Oxlade-Chamberlain, if they are not overplayed, they can absorb competition to come back and need minimal rest before they start competition next year," Wenger said.

"So I'm not too worried about that," the Frenchman added. "The only danger for us is if the player is not medically fit.

"But I trust the medical team in England if they travel. I think they have their first camp in Portugal and they will know after that."