World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson has spoken of his ``deep frustration'' after being forced to delay his return to rugby.

The 24-year-old England fly-half was a reluctant spectator as Newcastle booked a second round European Parker Pen Challenge Cup tie against Montferrand next month with a predicted rout of outclassed Spaniards Valladolid.

Wilkinson, given three weeks' rest following his match-winning exploits in Sydney, was due to play his first Falcons match of the season before catching a 5.30pm flight to London for the BBC Sports Personality Awards.

But he was forced to postpone his comeback when X-rays revealed a fractured facet in his shoulder, which is expected to keep him out until after Christmas.

However, he was still the centre of attention at Kingston Park, where he was mobbed by the two dozen visiting Spanish fans at a pre-match reception, and stayed long enough to draw the half-time raffle in his new, unofficial role of club ambassador.

"I'm trying to enjoy myself that way, it keeps down the pain for a while," he said.

"I want to be back doing my bit because not being able to do that frustrates me deeply.

"It sort of cheers me up being amongst the world's happiest people here."

Wilkinson, whose last-minute drop-goal won the World Cup, began to feel discomfort during a weight training session earlier this week and CT scans yesterday revealed a small fracture.

But he allayed fears that the injury, which is unconnected to the car crash he was involved in in the early hours of Tuesday morning, would threaten his involvement in the Six Nations Championship, which gets under way in Rome on February 15.

"My neck is the main problem," he said. "It's an old injury so it's been healing for quite a few weeks anyway so it could be that I haven't got that many weeks to go, maybe two or three.

"I'm just keen to make sure it gets back strong and that I don't have this problem again, I don't think I will have.

"I'm desperate to get back out there and do my bit for the team because they've certainly been doing that.

"I don't know too much about what's going on tonight or what's going to follow but I do know that I'm going to be here for training all next week.

"I'm keen to keep my normal life going."

In the absence of the England star, older brother Mark Wilkinson and fly-half understudy Dave Walder did their best to ensure the 6,012 spectators, most of whom had booked their tickets in the hope of seeing their new hero, were not completely disappointed.

Wilkinson, who scored two tries in Newcastle's 71-10 win in Spain a week earlier, grabbed another while Walder kicked eight out of 10 conversions and scored a brilliant solo try as the Falcons carved out a century winning margin over the two legs.

Centre Jamie Noon, man of the match Michael Stephenson and flanker Epi Taione all touched down twice and other tries came from hooker Matt Thompson and full-back Joe Shaw.

The Falcons raced into 21-0 lead after only 11 minutes and led 35-10 at half-time but the out-gunned Spaniards never lost their spirit and tries from captain Fernando de la Calle, Patricio Hermosilla and Alberto Rodriguez were just rewards for their commendable bravery.

Winger Alberto Reiriz added two conversions and two penalties before full-back Miguel Angel Frechilla wrapped up the scoring with a last minute conversion of Rodriguez's try.