Jonny Wilkinson has vowed to return from his injury nightmare a better player.
Injury-ravaged England and Newcastle star Jonny Wilkinson has vowed to return from his long fitness nightmare a better player.Wilkinson has not been able to enjoy a settled run of rugby since sending over the famous drop goal that clinched the 2003 World Cup for England against Australia.
Regarded as the best player in the world at the time, the world was at Wilkinson's feet, until a dreadful run of injuries intervened.
The Newcastle Falcons fly-half has not pulled on an England jersey since that dramatic extra-time victory in Sydney, although he did return for the British & Irish Lions but failed to sparkle.
Wilkinson admits that his injury hell has plunged him into the depths of despair at times, with even the hint of bitterness coming through as he struggled to even get and injury-free run in the Falcons side.
26-year-old Wilkinson says that he has been desperate to get back on the field consistently over the past two years, but has been thwarted each time by injury.
"I would have given anything to have played consistently over the past two-and-a-half years," Wilkinson told Rugby World magazine.
"There have been times when it's been painful. I've been incredibly depressed, demoralised, even bitter."
Wilkinson added that he understood why he was being written off after some many different injury blows, but insists he will not admit defeat and vowed to return a better player than before.
"I don't blame people for writing me off. I can see their point of view," added Wilkinson.
"But if people are saying I'm finished, I'm going to prove them wrong.
"Mind you, I do agree with them when they argue that, even if I do come back, I'll never be the same player again, I'll be a much better one."
