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Chris Ashton has returned to action with Saracens in recent weeks
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Ashton served 10-week ban for making contact with eyes of Luke Marshall
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Sarries winger scored crucial try against Northampton at Allianz Park
Saracens winger Chris Ashton is desperate to force his way back into the England reckoning after making his return from a 10-week ban.
The Saracens winger was ruled out of the Six Nations when he picked up a 10-week ban for making contact with the eye area of Luke Marshall in European action.
England will face Australia in Brisbane on June 11, Melbourne on June 18 and Sydney on June 25.
But with Jones already showing he is happy to bring the likes of new skipper Dylan Hartley in from the cold after his World Cup snub, Ashton is now relishing the chance to shine in Sarries’ title tilt.
“The plan from here is definitely to get myself called up for the Australia tour,’ he said. ‘Missing so much of the season I feel like I’ve still got a lot to get out of this year, and luckily I have that opportunity.
“If everything goes well then I’d love to think that I would get onto the tour, and with Saracens being where we are I’m in an ideal position to show what I can do in some high-profile matches.
“But for me it was a tough one not to be involved having been so close to getting back in for the Six Nations.
“So I’m not really looking too far past that in terms of who I’ve got to edge out of the team. I just want to get back in the squad first and take it from there.
“There’s not much else I can do as the lads who were in for the Six Nations played well, so there’s the first-choice guys at the minute. I’ve just got to play well enough to get a chance.
“I don’t think the time out will hamper my chances for the summer though. The lads in there at the minute deserve to start the games at the moment based on how they’ve played – but as long as I get my chance at some point I’ll be happy enough.”