Former England international Kyran Bracken has urged coach Stuart Lancaster to call up Steffon Armitage as soon as possible.

The Toulon flanker, who was named European Player of the Year last season, is currently exiled from the national team due to the Rugby Football Union's policy of not selecting overseas-based players.

However, following back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and South Africa, Bracken believes that the 29-year-old's return would boost England heading into next year's World Cup.

"This would be a great time for him to come in," he told Sky Sports News. "I think Stuart said he'd consider it in extreme circumstances and these are extreme circumstances for me. We need a different balance in the back row."

England are back in action on Saturday when they welcome Samoa to Twickenham Stadium.