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Newcastle will wait until an hour before kick-off before announcing whether Jonny Wilkinson will face Northampton on Friday night. Newcastle have confirmed Wilkinson will not be in their starting XV but have yet to name their replacements for the Zurich Premiership encounter.
The England star has not played since mid-March because of a knee injury.
Wilkinson is not in the Lions squad for this summer's tour but could be added to it if he proves his fitness in time.
He will have a maximum of five games, including the Zurich Premiership trip to Franklin's Gardens, to show he is fit enough to play for the Lions against New Zealand.
Wilkinson has not played at international level since he kicked the winning drop goal for England in the World Cup final against Australia in November 2003.
He has been struggling with his knee injury for the past four months, and has twice had to delay his latest comeback.
"If he's ready to go and he wants to go [to New Zealand], it would be good for him from a playing point of view because he's not played much rugby for 18 months," said Newcastle coach Rob Andrew.
"But if he's not 100% ready both physically and mentally, then clearly he shouldn't go because it's not the environment to be in.
"Whatever happens in this, I think Jonny will make the right decision because invariably that's what he does."
MMIX
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