ENGLAND captain Jonny Wilkinson misses Newcastle Falcons' opening Heineken Cup match against Gwent Dragons at Newport tomorrow and could be out for several weeks.

New England coach Andy Robinson has already said he will not include Wilkinson for the opening Autumn international against Canada in three weeks unless he has fully recovered from his arm injury.

The Falcons would obviously like him back for their tough European match at home to Perpignan on Sunday week prior to the resumption of Premiership matches at high-flying Sale the following Friday.

But after playing with the injury for the last few weeks he will now be given whatever time he needs to get over it.

The Falcons' joint-captain suffered a muscle bleed in his upper right arm early in the season and was hit on the same spot against Wasps two weeks ago, then again last Sunday.

Director of Rugby Rob Andrew said: "We have taken medical advice and spoken at length to Jonny about it. As always we are doing what is in the best interests of the player.

"This is unfortunate following his previous injury, but it is not related to that at all. We are obviously disappointed but we are lucky in that we have an international fly half in David Walder to come in and we know he will do an excellent job."

Joint-captain Ian Peel returns after a back injury and will lead the side in tomorrow's match, which kicks off at 1pm.

James Isaacson switches from prop to hooker as Andy Long has a hamstring injury and Jamie Noon returns at inside centre with Mathew Tait outside him. Epi Taione has not trained fully this week because of a knee injury and drops down to the bench.

Matt Burke reverts to full back, Tom May returns on the wing, James Grindal is at scrum half and Phil Dowson replaces Ed Williamson in the back row.

Robinson last night refused to rule Wilkinson out of next month's Twickenham Tests.

But the most accurate estimates suggested the fly half is unlikely to play again before England conclude their autumn programme against Australia on November 27.

Potentially, it leaves Robinson having to find a new skipper and fly-half for appointments with the Wallabies, Tri-Nations champions South Africa and Canada.

While in-form Sale Sharks fly-half Charlie Hodgson could slot effortlessly into the No 10 role, leadership duties appear a more complex matter, especially as flanker and captaincy candidate Richard Hill probably won't play again this season.

Bath pair Mike Tindall and Steve Borthwick are possibilities, or Robinson could turn to Gloucester prop Phil Vickery, now on the comeback trail following a back operation five months ago.

Wilkinson is ten games into his top-flight return after recovering from a career-threatening neck and shoulder problem.

He has started all seven of Newcastle's Premiership games, in addition to pre-season friendlies against Connacht, Munster and Pertemps Bees.

''This is disappointing,'' conceded Robinson. ''But we will wait and see how Jonny responds to treatment in the next few weeks. I am not discounting him yet for next month's internationals.''

Robinson reaffirmed that he won't consider players for England duty who are not 100 per cent fit, adding: ''Injuries are part of contact sport.

''Jonny is getting the right treatment, and it's a case now of how he responds.''