NEWCASTLE Falcons have recalled centre Mark Mayerhofler to their starting line-up for Sunday's Heineken Cup tie at home to Edinburgh, but Jonny Wilkinson is not yet ready to return.

The England captain still hasn't done any contact work in training and until he has done that he will not be considered for selection.

After breaking his leg 11 weeks ago, Mayerhofler has been on the bench for the last two weeks but did not get on against Northampton last Sunday.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew explained: "The plan was to give him 20 minutes again, but Matt Burke got cramp so we sent Joe Shaw on at full back and had to leave Mark on the bench as cover in case another back was injured.

"He has been upping his involvement in training and he's ready to start, although we may have to be taken off at some point as he gets his match fitness back.

"We are waiting for the all-clear from the medical staff for Jonny to start contact training. Then he has to feel comfortable once he has done it, and we don't know when that will be."

There is a doubt about Scotland lock Stuart Grimes because of a back problem, so 20-year-old Andy Buist will again start with Grimes on the bench.

Ian Peel returns at prop, Hall Charlton comes in at scrum half and Colin Charvis replaces Cory Harris at open side.

Andrew added: "Peel comes back as captain, which is a very hard call on James Isaacson because he had a really good game last week.

"We have to build on our wins against Newport and Perpignan, but the danger is that if you look too far ahead you can drop the baton at the second handover.

"Edinburgh have some quality players and we can't under-estimate them.

"They have a bit of European pedigree from last season and they would love nothing more than to come down here and put a spanner in the works of our dream start."

After watching the video of last week's match at Mowden Park, Darlington have accepted that full back David Kell did throw a punch prior to his sending-off.

It was spotted by a touch judge, but as it was an innocuous blow it seemed rather harsh for the 19-year-old to become only the second player in National Three North to be shown a red card this season.

"It was a moment of stupidity and he will have to accept his punishment when the hearing comes round," said player-coach Craig Lee.

Darlington plan to play Kell at home to Fylde tomorrow as their resources are still stretched. Lee has a shoulder niggle and his brother Paul is not fully over his hamstring problem, but No 8 Michael Taylor should be fit to return.

Mowden will be without centre Martin Shaw for the trip to Dudley Kingswinford as he is playing in one of the supporting events at the Dubai Sevens.

Tom Lauriston will revert to centre and Mowden were last night trying to register Newcastle Academy winger James Hamer.

They had originally hoped to get his Development XV teammate Ollie Phillips until he was called into the England squad for Dubai.

As the Development XV have no further games until February several players should be available to Mowden, but of the ones they want Danny Brown is at a wedding tomorrow, another prop, Ed Kalman, is injured and so is utility back Steve Jones.

Centre Amarveer Ladhar, meanwhile, is catching up on his studies after playing for India in Hong Kong.

Middlesbrough face a tough match at home to Hull, who were promoted with them to North One last season and top the league after losing only one of their nine games while Boro have won only one.

Gareth Lodge returns at lock for Phil Tilson, while Neil Parkin is at open side for Mark Kerruish. Boro's strength in the backs sees the talented Neil Baggett step down to the bench to allow Simon Moore to start at full back.

North Two East leaders Westoe entertain Stockton and have been further strengthened by the arrival of former England lock Garath Archer, who quit top-level rugby with Newcastle Falcons last season because of a neck problem.

Stockton retain Russ Alderson at prop and recall flanker Phil Austen, while Stuart Brown and ex-colt Phil Bieda are on the wings with Simon Crozier switching to centre as Mattie Oates has a hamstring injury.

West Hartlepool are at home to Alnwick and Hartlepool Rovers entertain Redcar, while the bottom two clash at Morpeth, where Horden are the visitors.

* Westoe have been given a great chance to reach the quarter-finals of the Powergen Intermediate Cup as they have been drawn at home to Barkers Butts in the fifth round on January 15. In the Junior Vase Sunderland visit Heaton Moor and Gosforth are at home to Crewe and Nantwich, while Scarborough visit Anselmians.

* Barnard Castle, beaten finalists at Twickenham for the last two years, went out of the Daily Mail Schools Cup in the fifth round when they lost 22-18 at home to St Peter's, York, who have seven players in the Yorkshire Under 18 squad.

The Keswick v Durham School tie will be played tomorrow with the winners at home to Bradford Grammar School. In the Under 15 event Durham beat Barnard Castle 7-0.

* The draw for the second round of the Durham Second Teams Cup on January 15 is:

Westoe v Billingham, Gateshead v Durham City, Darlington Mowden Park v Horden, West Hartlepool v Hartlepool Rovers.