Wilkinson suffers injury setback

Wilkinson has not yet recovered fully from a haematoma in his upper right arm which has kept him on the sidelines.

The Newcastle fly-half was ordered to rest after aggravating the problem against Wasps on 10 October.

"Jonny is responding well to treatment but this injury means I will be announcing a new captain for the Canada game," said coach Andy Robinson.

In Wilkinson's absence, Bath centre Mike Tindall is the front-runner to be named captain, with Sale full-back Jason Robinson also in contention.

Outside bets are Bath lock Steve Borthwick and Harlequins centre Will Greenwood, but neither are guaranteed to start.

Every one of them will be pushing for a place in the final 22 Coach Andy Robinson

Robinson has reduced his 40-man training squad down to 30 ahead of announcing the team, and captain, for the Canada game on Monday.

Half a dozen of the 10 cut from the squad were not considered due to current or recent injuries.

They are Gloucester trio James Simpson-Daniel, Alex Brown and Phil Vickery, Leicester lock Louis Deacon, Sale prop Trevor Woodman and Wilkinson.

The omission of James Forrester is an abomination to be quite honest From MR Have your say on Scrum V

The other four omitted are Bath fly-half Olly Barkley, Gloucester number eight James Forrester, Perpignan wing Dan Luger and Wasps wing Tom Voyce.

The loss of Woodman, Vickery and Wilkinson means only half of England's World Cup squad - 15 players - are available to Robinson less than a year after their victory in Australia.

The likes of Sale wing Mark Cueto, Leicester scrum-half Harry Ellis, Sale prop Andrew Sheridan and Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell are all in contention to win first caps against Canada.

Charlie Hodgson is likely to replace Wilkinson, although Wasps fly-half Alex King's recent good form has moved him ahead of Barkley in the pecking order.

"I'm impressed by the quality of players in this group of 30 for the Canada week and each and every one of them will be pushing for a place in the final 22," Robinson added.

"Naturally it's disappointing to have to factor in some of the recent injuries but that's what happens in sport.

"This has ruled out players for our first Test such as James Simpson-Daniel, who is clearly on top form at present, and of course Jonny."

Revised England squad:

Backs: I Balshaw (Leeds) B Cohen (Northampton), H Charlton (Newcastle), M Cueto (Sale), H Ellis (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), W Greenwood (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), A King (Wasps), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), H Paul (Gloucester), J Robinson (Sale), M Tindall (Bath).