DAVE Attwood will just try to put his best foot forward between now and the end of the season as the Bath Rugby lock plots a route back into the England camp.

Attwood was a shock omission from England’s World Cup squad last autumn and he was then sidelined through injury during the Six Nations earlier this year.

Bath head coach Mike Ford led the calls for Attwood’s inclusion in the Red Rose touring party to Australia this summer in the aftermath of their 32-26 win over Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership on Saturday.

However, the 29-year-old admits he has a lot of ground to make up after watching England’s current second row partnership, Saracens duo George Kruis and Maro Itoje, take the position to new heights.

“The ultimate ambition is to return to international rugby but I’m a long way from crossing that bridge at the moment,” said Attwood.

“We managed to get a win against a very tough Sale team but it’s going to be a very different kettle of fish up in Northampton this weekend so we will focus on how we can turn in a performance there.

“Hopefully I can contribute and that will hold me in a good light and if that carries on, we will see if I get a phone call about the summer.

“We have seen the rise of Maro and Kruis as one of the premier second row pairings in world rugby at the moment.

“To be able to hold myself in contention is a huge credit to those guys for raising the bar and I’ll be very pleased if I can climb a little bit higher again.”

Attwood is wary of being too optimistic as he is still relatively early into his comeback after more than three months out following neck surgery.

“I’ve played three games and am up to a couple of hundred minutes now so we are working on it,” added Attwood.

“It’s always going to be work in progress but you can’t replace games so the more of those I can get under my belt, the better.

“Hopefully I can get another 80 minutes this weekend and we’ll see where we get to.”

Bath will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for just the third time this season this weekend but a stern test is in their path in the shape of a trip to Northampton Saints.

“It’s a really difficult one for us. They are a great team all over the pitch,” added Attwood, “They are a very unforgiving team at home, they don’t make a lot of mistakes and when you make a mistake, they are ruthless in how they pick you off and make you pay for them.”

l BATH have confirmed they are in talks with the RFU over the possibility of coach Neal Hatley joining the England staff.

Bath managing director Tarquin McDonald told BBC Bristol: “Discussions are underway with the RFU.

“Being on the coaching staff for England is one of the biggest jobs around so there is definitely appeal.”