Following Jonny Wilkinson's successful return to the England fold after a long injury lay off, we take a look at some of the world's greatest sporting comebacks

Not one, but two amazing comebacks have contributed to the legend that is Muhammad Ali. The former Cassius Clay was stripped of his world title and sent to jail for his conscientious refusal to fight in the Vietnam War. He may have lost in his first comeback title shot against Joe Frazier, but the best was yet to come. Faced with the seemingly indestructible George Foreman, Ali danced like a butterfly and stung like a bee, knocking out the future grilling machine entrepreneur in the eighth round. Ali kept his crown until 1978, when he was defeated by novice Leon Spinks. But you can't keep a good man down and Ali retook his crown in the September rematch, leaving no doubt as to who was 'The Greatest'.