Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew says he will not rush Jonny Wilkinson back into full front-line action. Wilkinson came on as a replacement for the second week running on Sunday but could not save the Falcons from a Powergen Cup defeat to Saracens.
"He is doing really well but he has has not had a lot of rugby in the past 12 months," Andrew told BBC Five Live.
"We are not going to force the pace. We have got to let him get his game reactions back but he looks sharp."
Wilkinson has five more matches - three in the Premiership, two in the Heineken Cup - to hone his form before England open their RBS Six Nations campaign against Wales on 5 February.
He came on at half-time on Sunday with Newcastle trailing 17-5 and helped them to within two points of Saracens by putting Michael Stephenson over for a 75th-minute try.
But he was off target with the conversion and missed two subsequent drop goal attempts.
"Sometimes the drop goals go over, sometimes they don't," Andrew added.
"Jonny probably just hasn't played quite enough rugby yet but perhaps he will save one for another competition."
MMIX
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