Falcons get their Wilko wings
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:15
England's 2003 World Cup-winner, flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, is in line for an early comeback from injury and could play for his club Newcastle Falcons in the opening round of the Guinness Premiership.
The 29-year-old Wilkinson underwent surgery earlier this year to repair cartilage damage in his shoulder, but according to Falcons bosses he should feature when Newcastle start their POerenmiership campaign against the Sale Sharks on September 7.
Wilkinson trained with new England manager Martin Johnson's Elite squad a fortnight ago, which is also a boost for England - as new wonderboy Danny Cipriani is still out injured, following his leg injury last season.
"Jonny is doing great," Falcons rugby director Steve Bates told the BBC.
"He looks in tip-top condition."
"He has had a bit of contact work and the medical opinion is very strong that he will be fit for the Sale game."
Wilkinson's incredible list of injuries over the past four years is longer than most rugby player's injury lists for their entire lives.
He returned to fitness just in time for England's Six Nations campaign in 2007 and then picked up an injury early in the World Cup, but played on and made it through to the Final.
In January this year he signed a new deal with he Falcons that will keep him at the club for a few more years.
During this year's Six Nations he became the world's highest points scorer but then lost his starting place to Danny Cipriani for the final match against Ireland.
Wilkinson had what was described as a "long-standing tear" but continued to play for Newcastle but that came to an abrupt end when the Falcons were knocked out of the European Challenge Cup at the semi-final stage in April.
He took time off for the operation which ruled him out of England's tour to New Zealand in June.
In July he was named in Martin Johnson's first elite player squad, but he is the only specialist flyhalf in the squad.
