Wilkinson says he is confident he will play in the Six Nations

But speaking to BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme he admitted he did not know when he would play again.

The England fly-half said his neck injury was improving all the time and he was not far away from full fitness.

"I'm in a very positive frame of mind at the moment. I've been training hard but I'm not quite able to go out on the field at the moment," he said.

"It's a bit of a waiting game which is a bit unfortunate and frustrating, but apart from that I'm very, very positive.

"I'm still waiting for some nerves in my shoulder to regenerate and to start working in full effect.

"With nerves there's nothing you can do to accelerate the (healing) process. It could be tomorrow, or it might be the day after, or next week."

He's a great example and a great figure to have leading the guys into what are now enormously big games Wilkinson on Lawrence Dallaglio

Asked if he was confident he would play some part in the Six Nations Wilkinson replied "definitely", but admitted he was not sure exactly how soon he would be back in action.

"When I did the injury there was a possibility I could have been back within a week-and-a-half or two weeks," he said.

"I knew I wouldn't make the next game after I did the injury, which was six days away, but there was a definite possibility that I could have made the next game.

"That never happened but there has been a possibility of me making every game since, but it hasn't quite come round.

"I know it will soon and I'm training for that moment."

Dallaglio reclaims England captaincy

England will be captained by Lawrence Dallaglio when they open their Six Nations campaign against Italy and Wilkinson was full of praise for the Wasps number eight, who last led England in 1999.

"I think he naturally plays as a captain anyway in the way he handles himself and his behaviour," said Wilkinson.

"The positive influence he has on everyone is of a captain's anyway.