NEWS:A TOP LONDON surgeon believes Jonny Wilkinson has "a 90 per cent chance" of being fit again before this season's Six Nations Championship.

Simon Moyes says England star Wilkinson can realistically expect a four-month recovery time from his latest injury.

The outhalf dislocated his knee-cap during Newcastle's Premiership defeat at Gloucester eight days ago. He underwent surgery less than 72 hours later, which was conducted without complications.

Wilkinson, England's record Test match points scorer, has no chance of being involved in Twickenham appointments with the Pacific Islanders, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand next month.

But he could be available at some stage of the Six Nations - although later, rather than sooner, given his probable lack of match practice - which England begin at home to Italy on February 7th.

"His knee will probably be in a splint for six weeks, followed by an intensive physiotherapy programme thereafter," said Moyes, one of the UK's leading orthopaedic surgeons, who works out of the Wellington Hospital.

"The earliest he would be likely to get back to top-level rugby in my view would be three months, but more likely four. I would estimate there will be a 90 per cent chance of him doing so.

"The immediate treatment is to relocate the knee-cap, which is normally done on the field, then X-rays and MRI scans are taken to try and quantify the level of damage.

"Options then run from non-operative treatment, which is immobilisation in a splint or cast for six weeks, to the other end of the spectrum."

Wilkinson (29) was hurt just four games into his latest career comeback. He underwent summer shoulder surgery that made him unavailable for England's two-Test New Zealand tour, but the knee injury is just the latest in a painful catalogue of fitness problems since his drop-goal saw England 2003 World Cup winners.