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New injury setback for Wilkinson Wilkinson reveals injury severity
(about 16 hours later)
England and Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will be out for a month after suffering kidney damage in the Falcons' 26-21 win over Bristol last Friday. Newcastle's Jonny Wilkinson has revealed he suffered a "lacerated" kidney when he was injured on Friday.
The injury-plagued 27-year-old had only just returned after eight weeks out with a knee ligament injury. The injury-prone England fly-half will not be able to resume training for a minimum of four weeks.
No operation will be necessary but he has been advised to rest for one month before resuming any form of training. "Kidneys do heal quite quickly, but the specialist has seen the scans and says that I cannot do anything at all for at least a month," he told The Times.
Newcastle's director of rugby John Fletcher said: "We are all desperately disappointed for Jonny." "I must have taken a hit through the front of my stomach which smashed my kidney into a rib."
He added: "He has shown in the past what resilience he has in the face of injury, and I'm sure we will see the same amazing strength of character this time round. Wilkinson, who has been plagued by injury and has not represented England since the 2003 World Cup final, was playing his first game after an eight-week lay-off caused by a knee injury.
"We are deliberately not giving an estimated date for his return to match action."
606 DEBATE: Give your reaction to Wilkinson's latest injury 606 DEBATE: Give your reaction to Wilkinson's latest injury
England head coach Andy Robinson said: "We are looking forward to seeing him back playing for Newcastle Falcons and putting this unlucky run of injuries behind him." He played the full 80 minutes in the win over Bristol but now believes he suffered the injury just 20 minutes into the match.
It is also another injury blow for Newcastle, whose number eight Phil Dowson was earlier ruled out for the season with a bicep injury. "I'm so disappointed. I can't really pinpoint the hit which did the damage," he said.
"I think it happened about an hour from the end of the game. "I felt it but was able to carry on. I don't think it really hindered the way I was playing.
"The annoying fact is that it seems that playing on may have made it a lot worse.
"I was in discomfort throughout the weekend. It was after that I had the scan, which showed quite a bad laceration.
"It's so uncomfortable, training would have been out of the question. I still can't walk without feeling it."
Wilkinson has suffered a long and varied series of injuries, including shoulder nerve, biceps, appendicitis, groin and, earlier this season, knee ligament problems.