The former Wasps pair were two of a host of French-based players left out of the 32-man elite player squad for next season named by Johnson last month.

However, they get an early chance to impress England bosses with France's Top 14 getting under way this weekend, three weeks before the English Premiership kicks off.

And McKenzie is determined to play his part in helping his summer signings return to the international scene as quickly as possible.

The Australian, a World Cup winner in 1991, said: "I've got a good line of communication with Martin Johnson.

"And one of the things I want to do is help these guys re-emerge into international footy.

"I'm there for them, I'm looking at their skill-sets, the skill-sets Martin Johnson wants, what England are looking for and maybe we can dovetail them and give the boys an opportunity to play their way back in."

McKenzie insists the exclusion of back-row forward Haskell and lock Palmer from the latest England squad has not turned them into bad players overnight.

"England in a way are spoilt for choice," he added.

"There is always going to be competition for places and in the end it comes down to opinion. It certainly doesn't mean they are bad players by any stretch.

"Tom Palmer's been injured for a while and hasn't had a chance to press his claims and James Haskell is in a very competitive position. The back row is always competitive, with lots of options."

Haskell and Palmer are expected to start for Stade in their Top 14 curtain-raiser against Jonny Wilkinson's Toulon at the Stade Mayol on Friday night.