 Wilkinson first suffered his latest injury in a pre-season game |
England captain Jonny Wilkinson is in the best shape of his career and will shrug off his latest injury setback, according to fitness coach Steve Black. Wilkinson is back on the sidelines and a doubt for England's November Tests after suffering heavy bruising to the upper part of his right arm. But Black says Wilkinson, who was out for eight months this year with a neck and shoulder problem, will bounce back.
"He's made remarkable progress and is in better shape than ever," Black said.
Black knows Wilkinson better than most having worked with the 25-year-old World Cup winner since he was 17.
The Newcastle fitness coach insists the player has overcome the neck and shoulder problems that eventually required surgery back in February.
"He continually heads the fitness test results for the England team and has done absolutely marvellously since he came back from that operation," said Black.
"The game he played against Bath (11 September) was one of the best games he's ever played for Newcastle Falcons.
"He was quite magnificent the way he ran the game there and made some great tackles and breaks.
"He's been a little bit unfortunate getting this one. He's a victim of himself, being so brave.
 |  Jonny's only 25... he probably won't reach his best until he's 33 or 34 |
"Such is the nature of the sport that people will get these injuries."
Wilkinson sustained the haematoma to his right arm during Newcastle's pre-season match against Connacht.
The problem gradually got worse, forcing him to take time off and placing him in doubt for the Tests against Canada, South Africa and Australia.
Black insists the injury is not serious or linked to the more serious neck and shoulder injuries sustained during the World Cup.
But Black admits the injury will require rest and is unable to say whether Wilkinson will be fit for next month's Tests, which England coach Andy Robinson will name a 40-man squad for on Tuesday.
"This particular injury needs to be well looked after and looked at week by week," said Black.
"Jonny needs to stay away from any direct trauma on it and we just see how it progresses.
"There's no definitive period of rehab and definite date for when he'll play again.
"As long as he has a positive view and continues to do his work and keep his fitness up, then anything could happen.
"And if the medical team say he can play he'll be ready and willing to do that.
"It would be foolhardy for him to continue to play on, because it's in such a position that he will whack it again as soon as he starts playing.
"Neither Newcastle nor England are putting any pressure on him at all because he's too precious a commodity."
Black also dispelled any concerns that Wilkinson will have to modify his physical style of play because of the injury.
"We shouldn't even give any weight to that - it's silly beyond belief," said Black.
"He'll mature as a player and he'll get better and better. He's only 25. He probably won't reach his best, the way he looks after himself and trains, until he's 33 or 34.
"He'll continue to evolve as a player in every way. He'll get more experienced, he'll learn to cope with all the different situations he finds himself in.
"He won't change because of any traumas or injuries he's had. He's still the same kid and he'll continue to get better."
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