Wilkinson: Injuries behind me

Jonny Wilkinson believes he has finally put his three-year injury nightmare behind him as he prepares for the new Guinness Premiership season.

England's World Cup-winning fly-half has been plagued by a succession of problems since kicking the winning drop goal in the 2003 final against Australia. But the 27-year-old Newcastle number 10 insists he has identified what was causing him to break down during every attempted comeback and reckons it will no longer be a problem.

"In terms of goalkicking, the mechanics of my body, the strain on my groin from years of bashing balls around needed to be changed," he said. "One muscle was tearing repeatedly under pressure, causing a succession of setbacks. I have managed to 'switch off' that muscle by altering my kicking style and the way I practise."

He added in The Sun "I am not working any less in terms of preparation but there is more rest time and more enjoyment time."

"Had any of the injuries ended my playing days, I could have looked back on what I have achieved and taken my time to absorb everything. But that is not the case. I had a number of different injuries, all are healed and I am 27 and believe there's a lot more to come."

Newcastle travel to Northampton in this weekend's Premiership opener, their first match since boss Rob Andrew left to become the Rugby Football Union's elite director of rugby.

Wilkinson is refusing to contemplate yet another injury setback when he takes to the field and hopes to work with Andrew again by reclaiming his England place.

"Who knows what could happen in my first game this weekend? Every player taking the field on the weekend will feel the same way," he said.

"You cannot be negative but injuries happen in rugby, happen to everyone at some time.

"Most of all, the start of the season gives me a chance to return to normality, a chance to compete for trophies and for a return to the England team."