Will Wilko be back in white for the Six Nations openers?

The Newcastle fly-half, who has had neck and shoulder problems since returning from the World Cup, had hoped to make a club comeback on 7 February.

But that is now unlikely, which leaves Wilkinson with no time to prove his fitness for England's opener in Italy.

"The recovery has been slower than we had hoped," Newcastle director of rugby Rob Andrew told the Daily Mail.

"On a daily or weekly basis it's not moving on very much.

"We hoped he'd play against Montferrand last weekend but that wasn't to be, and now we're beginning to question whether he'll play against Gloucester.

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"The view we're taking is that it's looking unlikely, which would obviously have a knock-on effect for England."

Andrew even admitted that Wilkinson might need surgery in the near future.

"The feeling is that, ultimately, surgery may be necessary - in a month's time, two month's time, in six months' time or a year's time - it can't be ruled out.