Jonny undergoes scan after injury scare

England rugby star Jonny Wilkinson was undergoing a scan today on an injury which could have been inflicted during the World Cup final.

Wilkinson, who has not played since famously drop-kicking England to victory over Australia in the final in Sydney last month, was due to play for his club Newcastle Falcons in their Parker Pen Challenge Cup tie against Spanish minnows Valladolid tomorrow.

However, Wilkinson – who was involved in a minor car accident earlier this week – has been ruled out of action.

He had a precautionary X-ray on his shoulder and neck on Thursday night and will undergo a CT scan today.

It is understood the 24-year-old felt some pain and discomfort after a couple of weight-training sessions this week.

“It was only fair we made a decision to tell everyone that he is not going to play on Sunday,” said Newcastle’s director of rugby Rob Andrew.

“It has nothing to do with the car crash, that was a minor incident.

“He did take a big knock in the final and we all saw it and clearly there may be something that is an overhang from that.”

Andrew said the club were not prepared to take a risk with their prized asset and would reassess Wilkinson after his medical today.

“He has trained all week and that is why we and he are very disappointed. No-one is more disappointed than Jonny. He is absolutely sick and just wants to play,” Andrew told Britain's Radio Five Live.

“He is fine but with neck injuries we are not prepared to take the risk.

“He knows this will produce another round of a media circus – which is what he does not want.

“The bottom line is he just wants to play for this club as soon as possible but we have never taken any risk with him or any other player and we would irresponsible if we had known something (was wrong), put him out on the pitch and he had picked up a serious injury.”

The injury scare marks the end of an eventful week for Wilkinson. On Monday he took part in England’s victory parade in London, he was involved in a car crash on his way back to Newcastle and returned to London on Wednesday to receive his MBE at Buckingham Palace.