Jonny Wilkinson says Steffon Armitage should be in the England squad

Steffon Armitage: Outstanding for Toulon this season

Jonny Wilkinson says Toulon team-mate Steffon Armitage should be recalled to the England squad.

Armitage has been in outstanding form for the Top 14 leaders, and was again impressive in their Heineken Cup victory over Cardiff Blues on Sunday.

"He is a great player. I have the luxury of seeing him play week in and week out."
Jonny Wilkinson

The openside flanker last played for England in February 2010 - since his move from London Irish to southern France he has not featured.

England coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed he is reluctant to pick France-based players.

But Wilkinson says Armitage can no longer be ignored, particularly as England have struggled to field a natural ball-winning No 7 since Neil Back's retirement.

"The job that he does is world class and when you are world class you deserve to be in a squad," he said.

"He is a great player. I have the luxury of seeing him play week in and week out, which is always a big thing.

"But he is in a league where guys like that are gold dust - guys that can mould themselves round the ball on the floor and get you penalties and turnovers and change the passage of the game in a couple of actions and turn difficult defence into good attacking ball.

"Any team needs it and we are lucky to have him on ours. There are a load of good ones around and I think he is one of the best."

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