The England captain collected a heavy bruise to his upper right arm during Newcastles defeat against Wasps last weekend.

Wilkinson then only took a limited part in Englands two-day squad session at Loughborough University earlier this week, raising fears about his fitness.

But the Falcons have named their World Cup winner in a much-changed starting line-up as they look to end a worrying run of league defeats.

He has got a dead arm, said Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew.

It is a heavy bruise on his bicep, which he picked up in his comeback game against Connacht, and is absolutely nothing to do with the injury he had before.

The trouble with an injury like that is even though it isnt serious as such, it is still very painful if you get whacked again on the same spot, Andrew added.

Thats why Jonny hasnt done contact training with us this week, even though hes done everything else, and why he didnt train fully with England on Monday and Tuesday.

He is fit for the weekend though, and as for his form, I think he is going really well.

Wilkinson was sidelined from the game for eight months this year after suffering a career-threatening neck and shoulder problem, but he has started all six of Newcastles league games and is due to skipper England against Canada at Twickenham on November 13.

Andrew has made seven changes, including three positional switches, for the Saracens encounter.

Centre Jamie Noon and wing Tom May are both out of the starting line-up through injury, and a reshuffled back division sees Australian star Matt Burke starting in the centre and Dave Walder featuring at full-back, with exciting young prospect Mathew Tait on the wing.

Up front, former Wales captain Colin Charvis switches to number eight and there is a start for Falcons Academy flanker Ed Williamson.