Jonny Wilkinson suffers a new injury blow - page 2

01-10-2008 09:51

Cipriani, who took over from Wilkinson in England's number 10 jersey in the last game of this year's Six Nations against Ireland, plays his first game for Wasps since May on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old was not included in Johnson's 32-man elite England squad in July, given that it was anticipated he would be sidelined until the new year, and was named in the Saxons squad instead.

But Johnson has the option of moving players into the elite squad in the event of injury or suspension.

Wilkinson missed three years of Test rugby after kicking England to World Cup glory in 2003.

World rugby's highest-ever Test points scorer suffered knee, arm, shoulder and kidney problems among a variety of ailments.

He has suffered medial ligament damage to his left knee twice before, against Perpignan in January 2005 and on his comeback against Harlequins in March 2005.