Jonny Wilkinson will see a specialist today as he continues his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury which has dogged his season since he kicked England to World Cup glory.

The fly-half has played 58 minutes of rugby since returning from Australia and he has already been ruled out of England's RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Italy in Rome on February 14, but is confident he will soon be back in action.

''I am recovering and seeing a specialist tomorrow,'' said Wilkinson. ''I am happy with the recovery, but it is frustrating because there was an initial very good period of recovery then it just slowed down.

''But it is the right decision to make and good to get it out there because I have been training very hard for each game during the week.

"Then I've had to deal with the disappointment in quite an intense way when realising coming up to the weekend that I was not going to make it.

''Now at least I have got that period of time to work and work positively. It is moving on, but it is the frustration which is probably affecting me more than the injury is.''

Wilkinson was in Stockport yesterday to help launch the new adidas Predator Pulse boot, which is also worn by England soccer internationals David Beckham and Steven Gerrard.

The Newcastle player revealed while the problems with his shoulder and neck have not allowed him a chance of competitive action, they have not stopped him maintaining his fitness levels.

''I have trained harder than I have before really. Because of the time I have had off I have been training non-stop,'' said Wilkinson.

''I am probably fitter than I have ever been in terms of the work I have been doing up at Newcastle with Steve Black.

''I am really pleased with the way it has been going, especially with the kicking, but you cannot substitute match experience.''

Despite all the clamour surrounding his dramatic winning drop kick against Australia in Sydney last year, the 24-year-old admits he has never seen the match video.

''I probably won't do it, to be honest,'' reflected Wilkinson. ''I have seen the drop goal a few times when I have been places.

''The adage I tend to work by with rugby is that it is never as bad as you thought when you watch it, and it is never as good as you thought when you watch it.

''I just know it was an amazing event and I do not want to take that away.

''The memories I have first hand are good enough for me.''