Jonny Wilkinson is set to miss all of England's games this season following the operation to repair his dislocated left knee.

The surgeon repaired muscles and ligaments and examined Wilkinson's cartilage. The minimum recovery is four months but it is feared the fly-half will actually be out for longer.

He is already a non-starter for the four Tests in November at Twickenham and it is unlikely he will feature in the Six Nations.

Newcastle director of rugby Steve Bates said last night: “We have been told that four months is a time scale we should be working towards. If, for any reason, they have to go back into the knee then the timing could be different.”

Danny Cipriani, England's alternative No10, missed Wasps' EDF Energy Cup match at Gloucester suffering from stiffness in his ankle. Cipriani has just returned to action after dislocating and breaking his ankle but is scheduled to face Castres in the Heineken Cup on Sunday.