Wilkinson and Lam out of Falcons' Toulouse trip

While part of the positive attitude at the club involves stressing that they aim to win every competition they are involved in, the reality has become slightly different for Rob Andrew.

The Director of Rugby has little option now but to use the club's first venture into the top European event to fast-track some of his younger players.

The Falcons were drawn in a very tough group and defeat in the opening match at home to Newport meant it was going to be difficult to win any of the six group games.

The visit of Toulouse next Saturday might offer the best chance and it will be interesting to see whether the Falcons recall Wilkinson for that match.

With the Autumn internationals starting the week after, Newcastle are going to be depleted for Premiership matches at Wasps and Bath and at home to Gloucester.

England's match against Australia and Scotland's against Tonga clash with the Wasps game, then Scotland face Argentina and New Zealand on the next two Saturdays.

With George Graham, Stuart Grimes and Andrew Mower in the Scotland squad, and Epi Taione required by Tonga, Newcastle need to use the Toulouse games to keep their whole squad on the boil.

After suffering several knocks during England's defeat in Dublin, Wilkinson trained without any problems on Thursday, but Falcons' coach Steve Bates said: "He's played every game he could for us this season so we think it's time he sat one out.

"Pat Lam has an ankle injury and Stuart Grimes has a niggling back problem. But Gary Armstrong and Andrew Mower are fit."

Mower will make his first start since being injured in the first match of the season, while Jon Dunbar is likely to replace Lam. He was selected at No 8 for the game against Bristol two weeks ago but dropped out with tonsilitis.

Hall Charlton has impressed during Armstrong's absence with a calf injury, but the Falcons are likely to want their former captain to provide some much-needed experience in the Toulouse cauldron.

Winners of the inaugural European Cup in 1996, Toulouse lost to Munster in the semi-finals last season and have lost away to Newport and Leinster this season.

But the margin was only one point at Newport and they have since won three successive games in the French Championship.

Among several internationals in the Toulouse line-up are joint captains Emile N'tamack, who is likely to be at centre tomorrow, and lock Fabien Pelous.

David Walder will continue at fly half for the Falcons, and the options at full back are to retain David Richardson after his promising debut or switch Michael Stephenson from the wing, with Inga Tuigamala coming back in.

Darlington Mowden Park have suffered two more injuries ahead of today's National Division Three North match at home to Bedford Athletic.

Centre John Stewart turned an ankle in training on Thursday and Ian James has a shoulder injury.

Del Russell and Jonathan Boatman come into the back row, and Chris Strong has been drafted in at centre with newcomer Stuart Keelan on the bench.

Strong, who played for the club several years ago before leaving the area, has been performing well in the second team, while Keelan is the Durham University full back and has just been registered.

If things go well against the bottom club Mowden might bring on Keelan and switch Kevin McCallum to centre. Mick Kent gives them another option on the bench.

Hooker Tasi Tuhana and flanker Tony Irwin are back in light training and could be fit for next week's cup tie at home to Manchester.

Darlington also suffered a blow when winger Paul Beattie pulled his hamstring again in training this week. It was thought he was fit after missing the last two games, but he will be out for a further two or three weeks.

The team is unchanged for the North Division One match at Macclesfield, where they are prepared to battle for a victory as they did at Middlesbrough last week.

Flanker John Whitehouse, who hardly featured last season, is back in full training and is named on the bench, along with ex-Sunderland fly half Ian Dobson