Former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson believes that Toulon teammate Steffon Armitage should be in the England side.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster is against selecting players from French sides as they are not always available for training camps.

However, Wilkinson told BBC Sport: "The job that he does is world class and when you are world class you deserve to be in a squad.

"He is a great player. He is in a league where guys like that are gold dust - guys that can 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."

Armitage moved from London Irish to Toulon in 2011. The flanker has five caps for England, but last represented his country in February 2010.

England have Tests against Fiji, Australia and South Africa next month, and against New Zealand in December.