Noon out but Wilkinson available

England centre Jamie Noon will fly home from the World Cup on Monday after suffering a knee ligament injury.

The back is likely to be replaced by Newcastle team-mate Toby Flood, with Charlie Hodgson also in the frame.

On Tuesday, England coach Brian Ashton names his squad for Saturday's game against Samoa and can call on Jonny Wilkinson who has declared himself fit.

Jason Robinson will stay with the team but is unlikely to recover from a hamstring injury before the last eight.

Interview: England coach Brian Ashton

Wilkinson twisted his right ankle in training before the tournament began but the fly-half says he is now ready to return.

"I'm fit now," Wilkinson told The Times. "So I am, as we stand, now available for selection.

"Kicking-wise I've been working mostly on my left foot but I fully expect to be working on my right foot this week."

Noon and Robinson were both injured in England's 36-0 defeat by South Africa on Friday and had scans on their respective injuries on Saturday.

Team doctor Simon Kemp diagnosed Noon's injury as a grade two strain to a ligament in his left knee.

Noon described the moment he sustained the injury and reflected on his bad luck.

"I am getting used to the slow realisation that my dream of playing in the rugby World Cup is over but what is hardest is that I have only been here for two weeks and played just two games," he said.

"I bounced off a couple of bodies and I had the ball when another player landed on my leg. I felt my knee pop, so I knew it had gone."

Flood will be the favourite to replace Noon in the 30-man squad as England head into a critical Pool A clash with Samoa in Nantes.

The 22-year-old got the better of England rival Hodgson on Sunday as he guided Newcastle to a dominant win over Sale.

But Flood said after the match: "I haven't heard anything about England, so who knows?"

Robinson suffered a strain to his left hamstring but will stay in France to have further treatment.

Kemp said: "Although he pulled up pretty dramatically in the game, the location and signs of the strain lead us to believe Jason has every chance of playing a further part in the tournament.

"We are confident he might make a much quicker return than at first thought."

Regarding Wilkinson and Olly Barkley, who has a hip problem, Kemp added: "They are continuing to make good progress and we have always anticipated that they would be available for selection for this week."

Source: BBC Sport