Matt Dawson's international exile has been ended after England head coach Andy Robinson named the Wasps scrum-half in his elite player squad.

Dawson was removed from the England set-up in September after Robinson took exception to his decision to miss a training session in order to honour his commitments with the BBC's A Question of Sport.

But the 32-year-old's form for Wasps since has made his claims for a recall impossible to ignore and his return to the fold has given his hopes of making next summer's Lions tour a massive shot in the arm.

Leicester back Harry Ellis, who along with Gloucester's Andy Gomarsall is one of Dawson's rivals for the number nine jersey, has been promoted to the elite player squad from the senior national academy.

Ellis' place in the senior national academy goes to powerful Bath and England A back row Andy Beattie who pulled out of last summer's Churchill Cup squad in order to undergo an operation.

Mark Cueto has been rewarded for his blistering start to life as an international by gaining inclusion on the elite player squad for the first time.

The Sale Sharks winger was selected for the November internationals despite not being part of the group, which now numbers 56, but his four tries in three England appearances has been recognised by Robinson.

Mark Regan's international retirement left a vacancy at hooker which has been filled by Wasps' Phil Greening who has been catapulted back into the reckoning after his career was nearly finished by injury.

Newcastle's Jonny WIlkinson and Jamie Noon are in the squad, teammate Mathew Tait is named in the academy squad, with Phil Dowson picked for the sevens.

Senior squad:

Backs: S Abbott (Wasps), I Balshaw (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton), M Cueto (Sale), M Dawson (Wasps), H Ellis (Leicester), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), W Greenwood (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), A King (Wasps), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), H Paul (Gloucester), J Robinson (Sale), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tindall (Bath), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).

Forwards: S Borthwick (Bath), A Brown (Gloucester), G Chuter (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), D Flatman (Bath), P Greening (Wasps), D Grewcock (Bath), A Hazell (Gloucester), R Hill (Saracens), B Kay (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), G Rowntree (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), S Thompson (Northampton), A Titterrell (Sale), P Vickery (Gloucester), H Vyvyan (Saracens), J White (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), M Worsley (Harlequins).

Senior national academy:

Backs: O Barkley (Bath), P Christophers (Leeds), O Smith (Leicester), M Tait (Newcastle), T Voyce (Wasps).

Forwards: A Beattie (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), J Forrester (Gloucester), C Jones (Sale), T Palmer (Leeds), T Rees (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), W Skinner (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath).

Sevens: P Dowson (Newcastle), R Haughton (Saracens), U Monye (Harlequins), T Roques (London Irish), P Sanderson (Worcester).