Flutey last played for Brive – who he joined from Wasps in the summer – in September against Perpignan and missed all of England’s autumn internationals.

And the 29-year-old, speaking to the Daily Express newspaper, admits he is raring to be back in action and believes he will be available for Martin Johnson in time for the RBS Six Nations.

He said: “I hope Brive, and England, will see the benefits from the surgery now. Every tackle I had been making, even back as far as the Six Nations, had given me a short, sharp shooting pain which lasted about five seconds.

“This has been a good break and a chance for my body to chill out after a big season and I am looking forward to being back after such a long time out.

“My plan is to be available for selection when they get together at the end of January. After three games I want to be playing as well if not better than last season, then it is up to Johnno.

“No matter how much pre-season you do and how crazily you train, those first few games back still get you and you still puff a bit. But I’m hoping to get a few games under my belt and get the lungs burning before the Six Nations.

“I have been speaking to Delon (Armitage) quite a bit to see how he has been getting on because we have had similar shoulder surgery.

“He has a couple of matches under his belt already and hopefully I will be right for this Sunday against Perpignan.”