Chris Ashton could be set for an international recall after England head coach Eddie Jones contacted the Saracens winger.
Ashton, 29, missed the RBS 6 Nations after he was handed a ten-week ban for making contact with the eye area of Ulster’s Luke Marshall in a Champions’ Cup clash in January, but he could yet feature in England’s in three-match tour to Australia in June.
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The winger looks set to go straight back into Mark McCall’s Sarries side for their Premiership fixture at Bath on Friday.
After two years in the wilderness under Jones’ predecessor Stuart Lancaster, the Australian named Ashton in his initial RBS 6 Nations squad but his ban put pay to his chances of a return to international action.
Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell’s impressive performances during the Grand Slam winning campaign means Ashton faces a challenge to force his way back into the starting XV, but McCall said Jones wants his winger involved.
“I think Eddie wants wingers who can score tries and Ash’s try-scoring record is as good as anybody’s per game,” the Sarries Director of Rugby said
“It was hard for Chris to watch England doing so well when he possibly could have been there.
“Eddie Jones has given some encouragement that he is still possibly in the plans if he produces the goods.
“That has given him a boost in the last two months of the season.
“He was on great form before the suspension and he’s going to provide something different to our team with his X-factor. He has worked really hard and he’s flying.”
