Jonny Wilkinson sustained a dislocation of his left knee during Newcastle's Guinness Premiership match against Gloucester.
Scan reveals dislocation
Newcastle Falcons have announced that fly-half Jonny Wilkinson sustained a dislocation of his left knee during Tuesday's Guinness Premiership match against Gloucester.
The news makes the England highly unlikely to play in the four autumn internationals, which get under way against the Pacific Islands on November 8. England then take on Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
The early and unconfirmed prognosis is that Wilkinson may be out until Christmas.
A statement on the Falcons' website read: 'Newcastle and England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson today underwent a scan on his left knee, following the injury which forced him from the field in the 25th minute of Tuesday's Guinness Premiership match at Gloucester.
'The scan confirmed a dislocation of the knee, and Wilkinson will now receive further specialist advice and treatment.'
Despite the latest blow to the injury-ravaged fly-half's career, Falcons director of rugby Steve Bates attempted to strike an optimistic note. He told the website: "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."
Injury-plagued
Wilkinson has been plagued by injury since landing the winning drop-kick in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia.
He needed treatment on a shoulder injury after that match and has since picked up knee, bicep and groin injuries.
He has also required surgery to cure kidney and appendix problems before being sidelined with his latest injury.
In a statement, the RFU added: "The England coaching and medical teams are in close contact with Newcastle Falcons regarding Jonny Wilkinson.
"A further comment will be made after they receive the results of the specialist's review of his injured left knee."
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.
While Wilkinson ponders another lay-off, England manager Martin Johnson can only keep his fingers crossed that 20-year-old Wasps ace Danny Cipriani enjoys an injury-free run.
Possession
Cipriani finished last season's Six Nations Championship as the player in possession of England's number 10 shirt.
Cipriani was originally named in the second-tier England Saxons squad while he continued his recovery from an ankle injury throughout the summer, but with Wilkinson likely to be missing next month, promotion to the 32-man elite squad looks inevitable.
Johnson has other fly-half options within the main England group, including Gloucester's Olly Barkley, Leicester number 10 Toby Flood and London Irish's Shane Geraghty, but no-one fits the bill quite like Cipriani.
