Wilkinson comeback set for Saturday

Jonny Wilkinson will make his long-awaited return from injury on Saturday after being named amongst the replacements for Newcastle’s Heineken Cup clash with Edinburgh.

Wilkinson had been suffering from deep bruising to his right bicep and has not played since October 17. But he came through contact sessions on both Tuesday and Wednesday with no adverse reaction and was yesterday included on the Falcons’ bench.

Wilkinson suffered the injury in a pre-season friendly against Pertemps Bees and played on until October but after taking repeated blows to the arm he finished Newcastle’s Zurich Premiership game against Saracens in agony.