American football woos kicking king Wilkinson - £5m a year and no hits - Sport

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Wilko's golden boot has reignited a desperate scramble to sign him up as a kicker four years after he first caught the eye of NFL franchises.

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Doing the business: And it could earn Jonny Wilkinson £5m a year if he goes to America

The goal-kicking machine resisted big-money bids to lure him across the pond following England's 2003 World Cup triumph, only to be struck down by a series of devastating injuries.

Reports in the Daily Star suggest the confident Yanks are sure his injury nightmare, as well as the chance to earn more than 20 times his current £250,000 salary, will persuade Wilkinson, 28, to kick rugby into touch.

They say top gridiron goalkickers do not face the physical pounding Wilko takes in rugby because they are brought on just to boot points.

An NFL source said: "Scouts have been sent out to watch Jonny at the World Cup and obviously they have been very impressed.

"There were major doubts over his fitness but he's looking stronger than ever. There is no shortage of money in the NFL and the financial side of any deal would be no problem.

"But the trump card for convincing a player who has had so many injury problems could be the lack of physical contact for kickers.

"Kickers just come on and do their stuff. The only way they get touched is if they mess up – and Jonny doesn't do messing up."

Rugby sources fear England's chances of hanging on to their star player will be even slimmer if Wilko and his lionhearted team-mates can pull off another sensational World Cup win against South Africa on Saturday.

An insider said: "If Jonny can win the World Cup again he could decide to walk away at the very top.

"He has had such a tough time with injuries since the last World Cup that he may not want to risk putting his battered body through all that again.

"There's no doubt he could be a star in the NFL. He would have to learn the game over there but he's so talented and focused that it would be no problem."

Kicking king Wilkinson has told in the past how he loves watching American Football games and would seriously consider playing in the NFL.

He said back in 2003: "It is quite an exciting prospect to think about. I do like to keep an eye on what is going on in the NFL, and that does hold some serious interest for me."