Wilko: I'll be back soon

Jonny Wilkinson will see a specialist today as he continues his rehabilitation from the shoulder injury which has kept him out of action since the World Cup.

The fly-half has already been ruled out of England's RBS Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on 15 February, but is confident he will soon be back in action.

"I am recovering and seeing a specialist to keep getting the information in," said Wilkinson.

"I am happy with the recovery and the way it is going, it is just frustrating because there was an initial very good period of recovery and then it has just slowed down and not enough to get me back out there.

"But it is the right decision to make because I have been training very hard for each game during the week and then having to deal with the disappointment when coming up to the weekend.

"Now at least I have got that period of time to work and work positively. Frustration is probably affecting me more than the injury is."

But Wilkinson revealed that his injury has not stopped him maintaining his fitness levels. "I am probably fitter than I have ever been in terms of the work I have been doing up at Newcastle," he said.

"But you cannot substitute match experience."