JONNY WILKINSON is battling to play again before Christmas after being cut down by another cruel injury blow. The Newcastle outhalf looks certain to miss England's entire autumn Test programme, which features Twickenham clashes with the Pacific Islanders, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
Wilkinson's place in the 32-man elite England squad is set to be filled by Danny Cipriani.
Neither Newcastle nor the English RFU are speculating on how long Wilkinson will be sidelined after he dislocated his left knee during Falcons' Guinness Premiership defeat against Gloucester on Tuesday night.
But it is understood a three-month absence is probable as he braces himself for detailed specialist advice following a scan today.
Newcastle rugby director Steve Bates said: "It is obviously disappointing for Jonny to receive an injury just when he was back playing fantastic rugby.
"But he has enormous strength of character, and I am sure he will come back stronger despite this blow."
It was initially feared that Wilkinson had suffered knee-ligament damage when he limped off after being caught in a ruck during the game at Kingsholm.
Wilkinson was featuring in just his fourth match after undergoing summer shoulder surgery that sidelined him for England's two-Test New Zealand tour.
He has been plagued by injury since landing the winning drop-goal in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia.
While Wilkinson ponders another lay-off, England manager Martin Johnson can only keep his fingers crossed that 20-year-old Wasps ace Cipriani enjoys an injury-free run following his unexpectedly early return from an horrific ankle injury.
Johnson has other outhalf options within the main England group, including Gloucester's Olly Barkley, Leicester number 10 Toby Flood and London Irish's Shane Geraghty.
However, no-one fills the bill quite like Cipriani.
WILKINSON'S WOES
2002 - May:Suffers ankle-ligament damage against Gloucester, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
2003 - December 13th:Newcastle confirm Wilkinson has fractured a facet in a shoulder - the injury known as a "stinger".
December 28th:Suffers recurrence of his shoulder injury and has to come off against Northampton.
2004 - February:Ruled out of Six Nations after shoulder operation.
October:Haematoma in the upper right arm forces him to stand down as England captain for autumn Tests.
2005:January: Damages knee ligaments against Perpignan.
March:Suffers medial-ligament damage on Newcastle comeback.
July:Injures shoulder in Lions' second Test defeat in New Zealand and misses third Test.
September:Ruled out of early-season action by appendix operation.
November:Has a major operation for related groin problems.
2006 - January:Suffers a torn adductor muscle.
September:Forced off with injured knee ligaments during Newcastle's home game against Worcester.
November:Makes comeback but suffers kidney damage and requires one month's rest.
2007 - September:Twisted ankle in training rules him out of England World Cup opener against USA.
2008 - May:Undergoes shoulder surgery, which keeps him out of England's summer tour of New Zealand.
September 30th:Suffers suspected knee-ligament damage during Newcastle's English Premiership defeat at Gloucester.
