Gloucester boss George Skivington has revealed his disappointment at seeing his players snubbed for the England training squad and gets the chance to tell Eddie Jones the error of his ways when they meet later this week admitting: “ I won’t lie, I thought we would have a couple in.”

Besides asking why Lewis Ludlow, Ruan Ackermann, Ollie Thorley and Jack Singleton are not needed, Skivington, whose Gloucester side is one point behind fourth placed Northampton, will tell Jones that Jonny May is fit again after recovering from knee surgery. Gloucester’s lack of England recognition is made even tougher to take as the Bath team they recently beat 64-0 have six in Jones’s training squad to face the Barbarians and then the three tests in Australia.

Gloucester’s players have the perfect stage to impress when they take on reigning champions Harlequins at Twickenham on Saturday and Skivington said: “Obviously, I am disappointed no one is in there and I am seeing Eddie later in the week and I will find out who is near and who is not but there are a few young lads in the squad and Eddie will have his plan. What I will say is that things change quickly and quite a few lads are on the edge and there is time to still get on the plane and they won’t lose faith.

“I presume Eddie goes around the clubs every few months and will fill us in where everyone stands and who he is looking at. I think the guys on the periphery get a call from him like Luds( Ludlow) to say what is what. If there is any issue or some feedback they will always come to me.

“Eddie knows the people he wants in the camp and I won’t lie, thought we would have a couple in. Perception can play against you as a player and as a team and we have seen a few bits about that as we have gone through this journey and all we can do is roll out sleeves up and change perceptions.

“Jonny May is back in training and has done two sessions and is fully fit and you could see him back before the end of the season. He has worked very hard and I have never seen anyone attack rehab like him and if England do decide to use him it is all positive. In theory he available for selection but it is early doors. Ruan Ackermann is fit and has been phenomenal for us and he could be No8 for England.”