Wilko comeback on hold

Jonny Wilkinson's comeback from a shoulder injury today remains on hold.

England's World Cup match-winner was not considered for the Parker Pen Challenge Cup second round, second leg tie between Newcastle and Montferrand in France on Sunday.

And it could leave the Falcons fly-half with just one remaining opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of England's RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Italy on February 15.

Wilkinson has played barely 50 minutes' rugby since the World Cup, which was confined to one appearance for Newcastle against Northampton three days after Christmas.

The Falcons take a precarious seven-point first-leg advantage with them this weekend, and if they are knocked out, then two blank weekends loom while the Parker Pen quarter-finals take place.

That would leave Wilkinson, unless he features in any scheduled club second team games, with just the Zurich Premiership clash at Gloucester on February 7 before England kick off their Six Nations campaign.

If Newcastle eliminate Montferrand, then it is thought that Wilkinson might be considered for a place on the bench against probable quarter-final opponents Saracens on January 24 or 25.

Wilkinson is among four of England's World Cup final team injured and definitely sidelined this weekend - the others are Matt Dawson, Richard Hill and Mike Tindall - while prop Phil Vickery (rib injury) is unlikely to make Gloucester's Heineken Cup clash against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.

And three substitutes used during the Sydney final - Mike Catt, Iain Balshaw and Lewis Moody - are also currently out of action.