SALE Sharks head coach Kingsley Jones is backing England exiles Charlie Hodgson and Mark Cueto to fire out a festive forget-me-not to new national supremo Martin Johnson in the Boxing Day showdown with champions Wasps.

The Edgeley Park pair have both been out in the international cold since Johnson succeeded Brian Ashton as national manager earlier this year.

Fly-half Hodgson's last England appearance came in June when he was made the scapegoat for the first Test defeat on the summer tour to New Zealand.

As for winger Cueto, you have to delve back to the World Cup final defeat by South Africa in October 2007 to find evidence of his last outing wearing the Red Rose.

And in a fascinating sub-plot, Hodgson could find himself in direct opposition to Wasps' No 10 Danny Cipriani who has usurped his position in the England elite squad.

"I don't know whether Cipriani is playing to best of his ability right now but he's a fantastic footballer and it will be nice to see him on the pitch," said Jones.

"But whether Cipriani is selected or not, Charlie has nothing to fear or prove. His passing game, his kicking game it's outstanding - as he showed again at Bath last weekend - and as a playmaker he brings us so much.

"A lot of the current England squad are from the Wasps team so the game is a good chance for a lot of our English guys to make a mark. Mark scored two tries against Bath on Saturday and is right back to his very best and he could be up against Paul Sackey, so there are personal duels everywhere you look on the pitch.

"I would imagine one of Martin's selection panel will be down at the games and as a player you can't think of a better day to be playing and to impress.

"It's a Boxing Day sell-out at home against Wasps, and particularly for the English lads, it should be a great occasion."

It could also be the ideal remedy to help Sale shake off any lingering hangover from their heartbreaking 24-20 defeat in the West country.

And Jones knows that victory can propel the Sharks back into the top four of the Guinness Premiership and fire up their play-off prospects going into the New Year.

"With none of our rivals playing, we can move back into the top four if we get the right result. It's going to be a huge challenge and after what happened at Bath it will be interesting to see how we respond," Jones added.