Newcastle fly-half Wilkinson will feature when Falcons tackle Munster in Limerick next Monday, followed by an appointment with Pertemps Bees at Kingston Park the following Saturday.

And it is all systems go for Englands record points-scorer, building towards a September 5 Premiership return against newly-promoted Worcester - his 100th league appearance.

Falcons boss Rob Andrew admitted that Wilkinsons return couldnt have gone any better following a 40-minute appearance when Newcastle beat Connacht 32-9 in Galway on Tuesday night.

It was the 25-year-olds first game since he suffered a career-threatening neck and shoulder injury eight months ago.

We are extremely satisfied, said Andrew. The plan was for Jonny to play just a half, and he will play again next week and also against the Bees at home.

He has been outstanding in pre-season, and he has been brilliant on and off the field. Hes as good as he ever was, and hes been absolutely on fire in training.

He has also been very relaxed - like he said he would be - but we saw that change in the 24 hours before the Connacht match, when he went into game mode. Thats what you would expect.

Physically, he feels fantastic, Andrew added. He took some pretty big hits, so there is no issue there.

It couldnt have gone any better, to be honest, but we werent concerned. Seeing him in training during the past two weeks, you wouldnt have had any concern.

He will play against Munster on Monday, and then against Pertemps Bees the following weekend, and then we will see about picking a team play Worcester from there.

Wilkinson, who has vowed to put an emphasis on enjoyment as he takes up the reins again following such a lengthy lay-off, was back at Falcons Limerick training base.

Ive been waiting a long time to get back out there, and I am very rusty, but so are the rest of the lads. Its going to be a very long season, and we will get better.

I am just glad to be back, and the plan now is to get as much game time as possible. I was more than happy with the way I tested the shoulder in the tackles.

During the 25-year-olds prolonged absence, England have won just three out of eight Test matches, losing to New Zealand (twice), Australia, France and Ireland.

In the process, they relinquished their RBS 6 Nations crown and conceded 123 points on a miserable summer tour when New Zealand beat them 36-3 and 36-12 before Australia inflicted a 51-15 drubbing.

But the 52 times-capped star, who has kicked 817 Test points, can realistically set his sights on an England return against Canada at Twickenham on November 13.