The win puts the defending champions top of the Premiership table for the first time this season with Harlequins playing Bath later on Saturday.

Hodgson, a former Sale Shark, kicked four penalties and four from five conversions while Chris Wyles, Ernst Joubert, Alex Goode, Michael Tagicakibau and Hugh Vyvyan all crossed for the visitors.

And Hodgson wasn’t the only returning England star to impress as Brad Barritt made an impression in the centres and Matt Stevens in the front row.

But it was Hodgson who McCall singled out for praise after the game.

"Charlie had a wonderful game. He's come back from the Six Nations really confident and enjoying his rugby. Unfortunately, he didn't play the last couple of games, but he was great,” he said.

"This was a good start, but we can't get too far ahead. We navigated through the Six Nations, with a lot of players away and a lot of injuries, pretty well. And again this was a real squad effort at a really difficult place to visit.”

In Friday’s other game Worcester eased their relegation worries with a 19-9 win over basement boys Newcastle.

Former England international Andy Goode kicked 14 points with the boot while Alex Grove crossed for the only try of the game in the second half.