ENGLAND coach Eddie Jones has given Swindon’s Jonny May a big boost as he continues his recovery from injury.

It has been a frustrating 10 months for May since the fateful afternoon at Twickenham when the 26-year-old ruptured a knee ligament during Gloucester’s Premiership match with Harlequins.

The Chiseldon-born winger has yet to be involved in any of Jones’ squads as a result and has had to bide his time on the sidelines but was yesterday picked in the 45-man elite player squad for England’s Autumn series against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia later this year.

It is understood the former Royal Wootton Bassett youth player has returned to training at Hartpury College in the last month as he steps up his road to recovery and will be lifted in his efforts by the news that he is very much in the thoughts of the national head coach.

“The series will be a big challenge and the players will need to step up to the mark,” said Jones after announcing his squad, which included 37 players who will attend a three-day training camp in Brighton next week, which May is not involved in.

“With a number of players missing through injury it’s a good opportunity for others to put their hands up and show us what they’re made of.

“I think it’s a good situation to be in. Injuries allow us to strengthen the depth of our squad and develop robustness. Ideally, by the Rugby World Cup in 2019, we’re looking to have three players in every position who are interchangeable.

“At the moment we have seven of our most influential players not playing regularly for their clubs, but that should be no excuse. England have not beaten South Africa since 2006 and this needs to change.”

May is yet to feature for his club Gloucester this campaign after he required surgery on his knee injury, which also ruled him out of England’s Six Nation Grand Slam winning campaign as well as the tour of Australia in June.

The winger has taken his rehabilitation seriously having travelled to America for specialised treatment at the performance centre of Michael Johnson in Houston Texas.

Jones has kept in close contact with May during his injury, with the England head coach texting the former Ridgeway School pupil, and his inclusion in this squad is a further statement of intent from the national boss.

While time may be against May to feature in England’s opening game of the series against South Africa on November 12, he will be working hard to ensure some form of participation in the four-match sequence which comes to a close against Australia on December 3.