British and Irish Lions

The 29-year-old limped off the field during Newcastle's defeat to Gloucester yesterday and will now undergo a scan to assess the extent of the injury.

That scan will take place today, with initial fears suggesting that Wilkinson may have suffered knee ligament damage that could rule him out of England's autumn internationals next month.

"It looks like it is something to do with his left knee. It looks like it is some sort of ligament damage, but we will have to see how it settles down in the next couple of days," said Newcastle rugby director Steve Bates.

"Jonny is a great competitor. He didn't want to come off. We hope it might not be as serious as it looked."

Wilkinson, who missed his club's opening match of the season, had been due to be rested for this Friday's EDF Energy Cup encounter with Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade. Instead, Wilkinson's absence will be enforced as Newcastle and England nervously await the outcome of yet another medical assessment.

Wilkinson toured with the Lions in 2001 and 2005, playing in five of the six Test matches against the Wallabies and the All Blacks. A place in next summer's squad to face the Springboks would give the World Cup winning hero a chance to surpass Gavin Hastings' record of 66 Test points for the tourists.

The Waratahs upset the odds by beating Super Rugby leaders the Brumbies 28-22, but the game came at a huge cost to Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.