Jonny Wilkinson must prove his fitness to Newcastle boss Rob Andrew by tomorrow if he is to make his second comeback of the season in Sunday's Heineken Cup clash against Edinburgh.

Wilkinson missed all of England's autumn Test matches after suffering deep bruising to his right bicep.

He admitted this week to being ''frustrated as hell'' sitting on the sidelines and is chomping at the bit to return, though whether that will be this weekend remains in the balance.

The key will be whether he can come through contact work as Newcastle step up their preparations for Sunday's game at Kingston Park.

As soon as he completes full contact training Wilkinson believes he will be ready for selection, because the nature of the injury has allowed him to keep his fitness up.

But Wilkinson will have to convince Andrew, Newcastle's director of rugby, who will not risk rushing his prized asset back too soon.

Newcastle will make no official statement or issue any injury bulletins this week - Falcons supporters will have to wait until tomorrow's team announcement to discover whether Wilkinson is fit.

England coach Andy Robinson will be keen for Wilkinson to return to action swiftly, given the opening RBS 6 Nations trip to Wales is only two months away.

England proved against Australia on Saturday, when the Wallabies edged a dramatic encounter 21-19 as Charlie Hodgson and Andy Gomarsall missed comfortable kicks, how important Wilkinson's presence is.

If he makes the Wales game it will be Wilkinson's first Test match in 15 months - since he dropped the goal in Sydney that won the World Cup final.

Since then, Wilkinson has undergone shoulder surgery which ruled him out of all rugby for eight months, until Newcastle travelled to Connacht for a pre-season game on August 17.

Wilkinson played the first half in Ireland and it was in that game he took a blow to the bicep which, eventually, sidelined him in late October.

There is no urgent need for Andrew to rush him back, either, with Dave Walder relishing his chance at fly-half and Australia international Matt Burke finding his feet in the Zurich Premiership.