Jonny Wilkinson has been passed fit for England's first Test against Australia in Perth on Saturday.
England fly-half near return to full training
Jonny Wilkinson has been passed fit for England's first Test against Australia in Perth on Saturday.
The Toulon stand-off suffered a rib injury in his club's Amlin Challenge Cup final defeat to Cardiff Blues and has been training on his own since joining up with England.
It was originally thought that he would not be able to participate in full contact drills until Thursday, possibly leaving him short of preparation for the first Test against the Wallabies.
But team manager Martin Johnson has said that Wilkinson, who clinched the 2003 World Cup with a drop-goal against Australia, will be able to return to full training 48 hours earlier than planned.
Wing David Strettle and prop Jon Golding will also be available after recovering from ankle and rib injuries respectively.
Returns
"Jon Golding, Dave Strettle and Jonny will all resume full training this week," Johnson said.
"They will run to a degree tomorrow and will be back in full training by Tuesday - Jon probably by Wednesday or Thursday.
"They will all be fit by Saturday and if they are fit for full training, they are fit to go out and play."
England were largely disappointing during the Six Nations campaign earlier in the year, although they did put in a much-improved performance in their final game of the competition - a 12-10 loss to Grand Slam winners France.
Johnson hopes his side will carry the form into the two-Test series with Australia.
He added: "You usually get what you deserve in rugby. When you lose you know you weren't quite good enough - but we lost by two points in Paris and it was sickening.
Tough
"It was a really tough one to take but for a team that had some disappointing results and performances before that it was a big effort.
"We have got to keep the momentum.
"We did a lot of good things in that match, we did enough to win the game in terms of chances and territory but didn't win it.
"We have to keep doing those good things. That is the key message. It has always been difficult to win in Australia, whoever you are.
"We lost a series here with the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and that was a good team.
"You have to be a very good team to win matches in the southern hemisphere - that has never been any different and probably never will be."
