Shaw backs Wilko to return

Newcastle centre Joe Shaw believes his Falcons colleague and England World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson will "come back fighting" from the latest blow in an injury-ravaged career.

Wilkinson has once again been laid low after suffering medial knee-ligament damage during Newcastle's last-gasp Guinness Premiership victory over Worcester last week. The Falcons fly-half faces between four and eight weeks sidelined, having suffered three knee injuries, neck, bicep, groin and appendix problems since his drop-goal saw England crowned 2003 world champions in Sydney.

"We all know Jonny is up there with the best players in the world when he is fit, and all the boys really feel for him. He had such a good pre-season," said Shaw.

"The good news is that the injury isn't as serious as it could have been, and knowing Jonny, he will just get over whatever obstacles are put in front of him and come back fighting."