Jonny Wilkinson out for a month

Jonny Wilkinson will miss England’s November internationals after being sidelined for four weeks with a shoulder injury, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed on Friday.

Wilkinson suffered the problem playing for Toulon against Stade Francais last weekend and has been withdrawn from Martin Johnson’s squad for next month’s clashes against Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa at Twickenham.

The 31-year-old five-eighth, who saw a specialist on Tuesday to confirm the extent of the injury, does not need surgery but he will not be fit for a month, so his place in the England squad has been taken by Sharks No.10 Charlie Hodgson.

“As I said on Wednesday, Jonny was being assessed day by day and we would have a better idea of where he was in terms of the injury by the end of this week,” Johnson told the RFU’s website.

“It’s clear that Jonny will need a period of rehab of around four weeks and this will be carried out in conjunction with Toulon.”

Wilkinson lost his place as England’s starting fly-half at the end of last year’s Six Nations but he remained a key figure in Johnson’s squad.

Toby Flood is now certain to start against the All Blacks with Hodgson set to be named in a Test squad for the first time since the 2008 tour of New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Johnson’s decision to release Tim Payne and Paul Doran-Jones back to their clubs this weekend points to Andrew Sheridan and Dan Cole as the starting props against New Zealand.

With Riki Flutey still sidelined by a calf injury, Mike Tindall and Shontayne Hape are set to continue their midfield partnership.

England captain Lewis Moody has persuaded Johnson to let him prove his fitness by playing for Bath on Sunday before tackling the All Blacks.

Moody has not played since suffering an eye injury against Gloucester on October 1 that left him blind for 24 hours.