http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/3671593.stm Thursday, 29 April, 2004, 18:57 GMT 19:57 Wilkinson retains tour hope England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson still hopes to be fit for England's summer tour to Australia and New Zealand. The Newcastle star has played just 53 minutes since the World Cup because of a damaged nerve near his left shoulder. And Falcons director of rugby Rob Andrew said he thought Wilkinson had little chance of making the tour. But Wilkinson told BBC Radio Five Live: "I've been training four times a day. I want to come back fitter and as soon as possible, ideally for the tour." However, the 24-year-old accepts the nature of his injury means he could suffer a setback at any time. "Playing for Newcastle six to eight weeks after the injury I had to deal with the fact I just wasn't ready. And I might have to deal with that on the tour. "But until that point then I am going to continue in the way I am and try and be there, front row centre. "At the moment it's looking tough and it needs to improve quite severely. But that's a possibility so I'll run that right to the very end." Wilkinson suffered the injury during the World Cup and subsequently aggravated it playing for Newcastle. He has been undergoing non-contact fitness work with Falcons fitness coach Steve Black and is happy with the progress he has made. "It (the left shoulder) is feeling great. The strength's coming back and I am feeling more and more functional about it in terms of how I can reach for balls low and high, pass off both hands and lift weights, " Wilkinson said. "It's all really coming on but it's got a way to go. The longest part of it is putting back the bulk which has been lost when the nerve has been dead. "They say the nerve needs to be fully functional before you can put the bulk back on. "For things like tackling and contact I really do need to get that bulk back and pad my shoulder a bit and that's taking time. It's certainly nowhere near on my left side." --

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