Johnson: Jonny is England certainty

Martin Johnson, England's new rugby supremo, has assured fellow World Cup-winner Jonny Wilkinson that he will be welcomed back into the team once he has recovered from his latest shoulder operation.

With youngsters like

Danny Cipriani, Shane

Geraghty and Ryan Lamb

emerging this season many

people thought Wilkinson's

days in an England jersey

might be numbered.

But Johnson, who with

Wilkinson lifted the World

Cup in 2003, revealed that

the 28-year-old stand-off

was one of the first people

he called after selecting his

squad to tour New Zealand

next month.

"Nothing has slipped by

Jonny, certainly not his

England career," said

Johnson. "I hope he has a

real role to play for England

rugby right up to the next

World Cup. When I told Iain

Balshaw he wasn't going on

this trip he asked me if his

England career was over

and I said “absolutely not”.

"Jonny has had a 10-year

England career and he has done what he has done so

hopefully he'll be back in

good form at the start of

next season playing

fantastically well, better

than ever.

"There are a whole lot of

guys for that position, some

playing very well, but he

has the benefit of his huge

experience. He has been

there, done it and won all

over the world."

Johnson will miss the tour

due to the birth of his

second child, with the party

being led by elite director

of rugby Rob Andrew. The

pair will be in daily contact

but Andrew revealed he

will have final say on

selection in the two Tests.

"It won't be practical to

keep calling Martin and

although we already know

the majority of the team, if

a decision has to be made I

will make it," said Andrew.

"That decision might come

an hour before the game or

the night before, so it's my

decision. Having been

involved in the professional

game for 13 years there

isn't much I haven't seen."