England coach Sir Clive Woodward has admitted defeat in the battle to get Jonny Wilkinson fit for next month's Test matches in New Zealand and Australia.
The fly-half, who kicked England's World Cup winning drop goal against Australia last year, had neck surgery three months ago and has missed his country's last eight internationals.
"Jonny will be back for the autumn internationals," Woodward told the Daily Mail. "In time, he will look back on this period as the best thing that could have happened at this stage of his career."
Paul Grayson, second only to Wilkinson in England's all-time points scoring list, has retired from the international scene.
"I have absolutely no regrets," Grayson told the Daily Mirror. "I am delighted with my international career but I don't want to leave my wife and kids any more."