England boss Martin Johnson has reminded Harlequins’ Saxons contingent that British & Irish Lion Ugo Monye’s example can be matched after back row Chris Robshaw was dropped to the second-string squad this week.

The 23-year-old Guinness Premiership player of the year made his senior Test debut in his country’s 24-22 defeat in Argentina having also featured in the traditional clash with the Barbarians a fortnight earlier - which also ended in defeat.

Robshaw is joined in the Saxons squad by skipper Will Skinner - back in contention after summer ankle surgery - winger David Strettle and young centre Jordan Turner-Hall, but there is no place for back row Tom Guest and prop Mark Lambert.

Number eight Nick Easter and scrum-half Danny Care retain their places in the senior Elite Player Squad - announced on Tuesday - after impressing during the summer tour to south American, while Monye’s five tries for the Lions have cemented his place at the top of the game.

The 26-year-old, who touched down in Saturday’s 28-9 third Test triumph over South Africa, has enjoyed a spectacular rise to prominence having been selected in the Saxons squad this time last year.

He made his England debut against the Pacific Islands in November and scored his first international try in the Six Nations in March, which saw England finish second in the table behind Grand Slam winners Ireland.

And Johnson, who admitted performances on the Lions tour and that to south America had made selection difficult, believes it is Monye’s example those left out must follow.

“Selection for the two squads has been very difficult because there is a greater strength in depth of players to choose from now than we had 12 months ago,” he said.

“The England players on the British & Irish Lions tour have played exceptionally well and this has allowed us to look at other players in the two matches against Argentina and in the Churchill Cup.

“There is strong competition for places within both squads. There will also be opportunities, as there were last year, for movement between the two squads and for players to come in from outside the 64 because of injury, retirement or suspension.

“Delon Armitage and Mark Cueto are good examples of the latter, while Ugo Monye and Joe Worsley have earned Lions caps after being originally selected in the Saxons.”

The senior squad will meet up for a training camp in August as part of preparation’s for autumn internationals against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.

Senior elite player squad

Forwards – Steffon Armitage (London Irish), Steve Borthwick (Saracens), George Chuter (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Ben Kay (Leicester Tigers), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Tim Payne (London Wasps), Tom Rees (London Wasps), Simon Shaw (London Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Phil Vickery (London Wasps), Julian White (Leicester Tigers), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Joe Worsley (London Wasps). Backs – Delon Armitage (London Irish), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Riki Flutey (CA Brive), Dan Hipkiss (Leicester Tigers), Paul Hodgson (London Irish), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Olly Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks), Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon).

Saxons squad

Forwards – Richard Blaze (Leicester Tigers), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Nick Kennedy (London Irish), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Matthew Mullan (Worcester Warriors), Tom Mercey (Saracens), Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers), Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby), David Paice (London Irish), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Will Skinner (Harlequins), George Skivington (London Wasps), Dan Ward-Smith (London Wasps), Rob Webber (London Wasps), Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Woods (Leicester Tigers). Backs – Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Danny Cipriani (London Wasps), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Shane Geraghty (Northampton Saints), Topsy Ojo (London Irish), Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints), Paul Sackey (London Wasps), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), David Strettle (Harlequins), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Sam Vesty (Leicester Tigers), Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps), Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons).