SHAUN Perry has revealed his frustration at being denied the opportunity to make a flying start to the new season.

Left out of both England's full and Saxons squads, the Bristol scrum-half was desperate to make an early impression for his club in order to represent his country again.

But the 30-year-old, who has 14 caps for England, is likely to miss three months of action after being told he will need surgery to correct the shoulder problem he suffered five minutes into Bristol's friendly defeat at Exeter last weekend.

"To do eight weeks of hard pre-season and then injure yourself five minutes into the first friendly is massively disappointing," said Perry.

"To start with, it was a massive disappointment for me not to be picked in either England squad, so I told myself that I needed to make a good start to the season.

"I won't get that opportunity now, but we have got great strength and conditioning staff, great physios and great doctors here, so I will be back as soon as possible. I'll get the shoulder fixed and then I'll crack on.

"The shoulder feels a bit sore, although it is feeling easier now than it was earlier in the week. I still can't believe that I got injured five minutes into the first friendly, but I will come back from it."

And while his own international ambitions have been placed on hold, Perry is backing Bristol team-mate Dan Ward-Smith to break into the England squad this season.

The No 8, Perry's former flatmate, was on course to make his Test debut in February 2007, but suffered a serious knee injury and has yet to make his international bow.

"Dan's due a bit of good luck – he's had some bad luck both with his knee and breaking his hand," said Perry.

"His injuries have always come at the wrong time, but he is a great player and I think he will show he's a great player this season.

"If he does and he is playing well and in form then he should be selected (by England)."