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Wilkinson reveals injury severity Wilkinson faces three months out
(30 minutes later)
Newcastle's Jonny Wilkinson has revealed he suffered a "lacerated" kidney when he was injured on Friday. Newcastle's Jonny Wilkinson will be out for up to three months after suffering a "lacerated" kidney.
The injury-prone England fly-half will not be able to resume training for a minimum of four weeks. The England fly-half picked up the injury in Friday's win over Bristol - his first start for eight weeks.
"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. "It will be about two or three months, we're not putting any timescale on it," said Falcons coach John Fletcher.
"I must have taken a hit through the front of my stomach which smashed my kidney into a rib." "He definitely needs to be inactive for four weeks and then he starts his rehab. He'll be back when he's ready - it will be around eight to 12 weeks."
Interview: Newcastle director of rugby John FletcherInterview: Newcastle director of rugby John Fletcher
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. Wilkinson, who has been plagued by injury and has not represented England since the 2003 World Cup final, was playing his first game after two months out with a knee injury.
606 DEBATE: Give your reaction to Wilkinson's latest injury 606 DEBATE: Give your reaction to Wilkinson's latest injury
He played the full 80 minutes in the win over Bristol but now believes he suffered the injury just 20 minutes into the match.He played the full 80 minutes in the win over Bristol but now believes he suffered the injury just 20 minutes into the match.
"I'm so disappointed. I can't really pinpoint the hit which did the damage," he said. It's so uncomfortable, training would have been out of the question Jonny Wilkinson
"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. "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.
"I must have taken a hit through the front of my stomach which smashed my kidney into a rib.
"I'm so disappointed. I can't really pinpoint the hit which did the damage. 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."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."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.""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.Wilkinson has suffered a long and varied series of injuries, including shoulder nerve, biceps, appendicitis, groin and, earlier this season, knee ligament problems.