Phil Vickery and Lewis Moody both made successful comebacks in second-team games, while Trevor Woodman is set to make his English Premiership return on Friday.

With Englands opening autumn Test against Canada just over a month away, the possibility of all three players being available is heartening news for Robinson and his squad, who trained in Surrey on Tuesday.

Lions prop Vickery enjoyed a 40-minute stint as Gloucester were beaten 43-42 by Wasps in Monday nights English A League game at Kingsholm on his first appearance since undergoing back surgery six months ago.

This was a massive step on the ladder for me, said the 43-times-capped tighthead.

We all agreed that 20 minutes would be the starting block, but after a chat with the doctor midway through the first half, everything felt good for another 20 minutes.

Its important to realise that this 40 minutes is not the end of the story. I was a little nervous, but mentally, it is fantastic to have played the entire first half.

More than 9,000 spectators - a record crowd for a second-team fixture in Britain - watched flanker Moodys return for Leicester against Northampton at Welford Road.

The 24-times-capped flanker endured 10 months out of action while he recovered from a serious foot injury, but featured for 77 minutes and collected a yellow card during Leicesters 20-14 defeat.

Sale Sharks prop Woodman, meanwhile, has been declared fit and available for his teams league clash against Edgeley Park visitors London Irish on Friday night.

A back injury has contributed towards Woodman making just one league start since he joined the Premiership leaders from Gloucester.

Its been frustrating watching the team play from the sidelines, and I am really looking forward to playing again this week.

The good news for Robinson though, might be tempered later following further checks on star flanker Richard Hills injury.

Hill is due to undergo an MRI scan on his left knee after being carried off during Saracens Premiership defeat against London Irish two days ago.