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| Wilkinson set to miss Scots clash | Wilkinson set to miss Scots clash |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Jonny Wilkinson is almost certain to miss England's opening Six Nations match against Scotland on 3 February, according to his fitness coach. | Jonny Wilkinson is almost certain to miss England's opening Six Nations match against Scotland on 3 February, according to his fitness coach. |
| The 27-year-old was named in England's 33-man Six Nations squad on Tuesday. | The 27-year-old was named in England's 33-man Six Nations squad on Tuesday. |
| But Newcastle fitness coach Steve Black told BBC Sport: "I don't think Jonny will be ready for the Scotland game. | But Newcastle fitness coach Steve Black told BBC Sport: "I don't think Jonny will be ready for the Scotland game. |
| "It would be foolhardy to rush him back. He needs time to adjust to the playing environment. We need to get him back onto the field for Newcastle." | "It would be foolhardy to rush him back. He needs time to adjust to the playing environment. We need to get him back onto the field for Newcastle." |
| With Wilkinson unlikely to play, either Toby Flood or the uncapped Shane Geraghty - neither of whom has started a game for England - will be selected at fly-half against Scotland by new head coach Brian Ashton. | With Wilkinson unlikely to play, either Toby Flood or the uncapped Shane Geraghty - neither of whom has started a game for England - will be selected at fly-half against Scotland by new head coach Brian Ashton. |
| Wilkinson has not played for the Falcons since suffering a lacerated kidney on 3 November against Bristol. | Wilkinson has not played for the Falcons since suffering a lacerated kidney on 3 November against Bristol. |
| This latest setback was a pure freak injury Steve BlackNewcastle fitness coach | This latest setback was a pure freak injury Steve BlackNewcastle fitness coach |
| He is joining in with fitness and skills sessions with his team-mates, but is yet to take part in full-contact sessions. | He is joining in with fitness and skills sessions with his team-mates, but is yet to take part in full-contact sessions. |
| Black, who has worked with Wilkinson since he was 17, says the fly-half is making excellent progress. | Black, who has worked with Wilkinson since he was 17, says the fly-half is making excellent progress. |
| "I work one on one with Jonny every day and he's determined, ambitious and in great nick. | "I work one on one with Jonny every day and he's determined, ambitious and in great nick. |
| "He was very sore and uncomfortable following the injury, but the soreness has subsided now. | "He was very sore and uncomfortable following the injury, but the soreness has subsided now. |
| "A fit Jonny Wilkinson is a major bonus to the England squad." 606: DEBATE I'm worried by the lack of international experience at 10 should Wilkinson's blighted season see him not fit enough to start SAM 606: Have your say | "A fit Jonny Wilkinson is a major bonus to the England squad." 606: DEBATE I'm worried by the lack of international experience at 10 should Wilkinson's blighted season see him not fit enough to start SAM 606: Have your say |
| Wilkinson has not played for England since the 2003 World Cup final and has made only three starts for Newcastle this season. | Wilkinson has not played for England since the 2003 World Cup final and has made only three starts for Newcastle this season. |
| He has been afflicted by injuries to his neck, shoulder, knee ligaments and kidney, but Black denies that Wilkinson will always be injury prone. | |
| "This latest setback was a pure freak injury," Black said. "A whack to the kidneys is a boxing injury. | "This latest setback was a pure freak injury," Black said. "A whack to the kidneys is a boxing injury. |
| "It's a part of the body that's difficult to protect and is vulnerable, even for world champion boxers. | "It's a part of the body that's difficult to protect and is vulnerable, even for world champion boxers. |
| "Jonny is fit and strong and his recovery levels are high. And he's had a lot of practice at recovering." | "Jonny is fit and strong and his recovery levels are high. And he's had a lot of practice at recovering." |
| Black also works with Flood at Newcastle and says the young fly-half has learnt a lot from Wilkinson. | Black also works with Flood at Newcastle and says the young fly-half has learnt a lot from Wilkinson. |
| "In rugby, as in life, you want to be with good, positive and ambitious people. Jonny Wilkinson would get a tick in all of those columns and Toby's certainly benefited from working with him." | "In rugby, as in life, you want to be with good, positive and ambitious people. Jonny Wilkinson would get a tick in all of those columns and Toby's certainly benefited from working with him." |