Rugby, Australian Football: Jonny Wilkinson hopes to be back next month

England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson could be set to make his return from injury in a pre-season friendly later this month.

Wilkinson, who successfully converted the drop-kick which handed England the World Cup in Australia last year, is now fully fit following surgery on his shoulder and could make his comeback for the Newcastle Falcons against Irish outfit Connacht on August 17.

The 25-year-old, who was ruled out of England's summer tour to New Zealand and Australia, has not played since last December.

He damaged a nerve between his spine and his shoulder and aggravated the injury playing for Newcastle.

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Newcastle have confirmed England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson will make his long-awaited comeback from injury on Tuesday.

Wilkinson, who has been out for eight months with a neck injury, has been named in the Falcons side to take on Connacht in a pre-season friendly in Galway.

It will be 25-year-old Wilkinson's first match since December 28.

England's record points-scorer suffered a so-called "stinger" injury which also affected his shoulder and arm and required surgery in February.

There were fears Wilkinson's career could have been threatened and Falcons director of rugby Rob Andrew is pleased to have him back in action.

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