Newcastle played down fears that England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will be sidelined for any length of time after he suffered another worrying neck injury at Kingston Park.
Wilkinson needed prolonged treatment in the second half of Newcastle’s 13-8 defeat by London Irish in the Guinness Premiership and, although he played on, he eventually went off with 12 minutes to go.
Falcons boss Steve Bates said he expects Wilkinson to be fit to face Leicester next week along with England duo Toby Flood and Jamie Noon, who missed Sunday’s game with ankle injuries.
"Jonny got a bang on the head and felt a bit of a stinger down one arm,” said Bates.
“He seemed fine at the end of the game, but he was a little bit woozy and the doctor has been having a look at him and we think he'll be fine.”