Wilkinson - freedom of Newcastle.

By Paul Watson, PA News

Newcastle Falcons are preparing the party of a lifetime for the return of England's World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson.

Planning behind the scenes at Kingston Park is already under way, with Wilkinson and his team-mates due to touchdown in London during the early hours of tomorrow morning after their last-ditch victory over Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

The Zurich Premiership club are yet to announce just how they will celebrate Wilkinson's return, but they are in discussions with the Rugby Football Union about arrangements for the national homecoming celebrations before the north-east's newest sporting hero then heads for Tyneside.

What is certain, though, is that the whole region will turn out in force to show their appreciation.

Although no date has been set for his return to domestic action, the club have revealed Wilkinson will be back in time to watch the Falcons play Wasps in their televised Zurich Premiership clash.

However, Wilkinson - who swept England to World Cup glory with a dramatic extra-time drop-goal - will not play any part in the match, with boss Rob Andrew wanting to speak to his match-winning protégé before deciding on his comeback.

"Jonny will definitely be back with us this Saturday and we're looking through a few ways of celebrating his return - he deserves it after what he achieved out there," said a Newcastle spokesman.

"We might have him doing an on-pitch interview and there could be photo and autograph opportunities for the fans as well. There are plenty of options open to us.

"Rob is back tomorrow and he will talk to Jonny about when he should start playing for the club again. We have lots of games coming up so it's just a case of the two of them making a decision."

And whatever else comes the way of the extraordinary fly-half in the weeks, months and years ahead, civic chiefs are already preparing to honour him by granting him the Freedom of the City of Newcastle.

Leader of Newcastle City Council Tony Flynn is to propose Wilkinson is awarded the honour, and a decision will be taken at a meeting of the full council on December 3.

"Jonny Wilkinson came to the city six years ago and with Rob Andrew, has helped transform Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club," he said.

"Jonny came from the south of England, brought his family up to Newcastle and represents our world-class city and world-class culture.

"The people of Newcastle feel a great pride for all of Jonny's achievements."

Wilkinson would follow in the footsteps of such other luminaries as Newcastle's football skipper Alan Shearer, former South African president Nelson Mandela, Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards and the late Cardinal Basil Hume in receiving the freedom of Newcastle.

Wilkinson would receive a Scroll of Freedom, sign a register dating back to the 1800s and have his name chiselled into a wall of honour at Newcastle Civic Centre.