Newcastle attracted the smallest crowd in the country last weekend but high-profile help is on its way. No season is complete without a Jonny Wilkinson comeback and yesterday it was confirmed that England's World Cup-winning fly-half is fit to start Sunday's Guinness Premiership game against Northampton at Kingston Park.

Wilkinson has not been sighted on a rugby field since May, having undergone his latest surgical procedure, this time to ease a shoulder problem. He was not risked for Newcastle's defeat against Sale but he has been cleared to face the Saints and, potentially, their former All Black stand-off, Carlos Spencer.

"Jonny is in great shape and raring to go," said Steve Bates, the Falcons' director of rugby. "I thought Rory Clegg did very well for an 18-year-old making his Premiership debut last weekend, but with a world-class talent like Jonny we will be a much more potent attacking force."

Bates believes that Wilkinson's mere presence will make a difference as the Falcons seek to avoid starting the season with successive home losses. "The attention the opposition have to give him often presents opportunities elsewhere on the field for other players," Bates said. "He knows what we as coaches are trying to achieve and what he also brings is a great emphasis on precision in attack. He poses a huge amount of problems for defenders to deal with, because he is a prolific goalkicker and teams are wary of conceding penalties in their own half, which in turn could well have implications on other areas of the game."

With Danny Cipriani not yet back in action following the serious ankle injury he suffered in Wasps' play-off semi-final against Bath in May, England's coaches would love to see Wilkinson playing with his old authority and vigour. They will also be interested in the progress of the Sale prop Andrew Sheridan, who will start tonight's home game against Saracens. Scotland's Rory Lamont is included on the wing in place of Mark Cueto, with the England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth starting ahead of Wales's Dwayne Peel. "All my players know they need to be at the top of their game to keep their place in the team," said Sale's director of rugby, Philippe Saint-André.

Saracens have made five changes to the team narrowly beaten by Harlequins last Saturday, with the smooth-running Richard Haughton back at full-back.

Bristol have signed an England-qualified South African back, Mathew Turner, 20, from Western Province on a two-year contract.