James Simpson-Daniel has had no time to ease his way back into the Gloucester side after recovering from injury – but he would not want it any other way, writes Steve Cotton.

The England winger missed three months following ankle surgery in October, but has returned to play 80 minutes in each of his side's last two matches, the Heineken Cup defeats against Cardiff Blues and Biarritz.

And after getting back on the scoresheet with his fourth try of the season in last Friday's 24-10 defeat in the south of France, Simpson-Daniel is desperate to help his side snap out of their losing streak as he rediscovers his form and fitness.

London Irish visit Kingsholm tomorrow for a second-versus-first Guinness Premiership fixture – and Simpson-Daniel is hoping for a strong display of character after a disappointing few weeks for Gloucester.

"The last few weeks have been pretty bad for us as a club on the whole – and now we've got to go into a big game this weekend after a lot of disruption," said the 26-year-old.

"But don't get me wrong, London Irish's preparations will have been disrupted as well. They will have guys missing, as do we, so it's no tail-between-our-legs jobs.

"Our confidence isn't as high as we would ideally want it to be going into this type of game, but it's important that we pull together now and really try to show a bit of character. We need to get back to winning ways.

"There are no alarm bells but getting beaten three games in a row isn't good for any side, especially a side that we like to think will challenge for things.

"If we want to be competitive with the top sides, we need to get back to winning ways."

Challenging conditions – high winds at Newcastle, a heavy surface against Cardiff and wind and rain at Biarritz – have hardly helped matters over the course of the last three matches.

But Simpson-Daniel says there can be no excuses as Gloucester look to put things right against Irish this weekend.

"The conditions have played a very big part – but it has been the same for the opposition as well," he said.

"It would be great if conditions were good this weekend, but we also need to prove some time that we can win when all the boxes aren't ticked. We need to prove we can claw a win from whatever situation."

Last weekend's "horrendous" delayed journey back from Biarritz did little to cheer Gloucester spirits, but the incentive of a top-of-the-table clash with an in-form Irish side has certainly focused the minds this week.

And Simpson-Daniel is looking forward to continuing his comeback from injury after back-to-back 80-minute outings over the past two weekends.

"I'd almost rather it that way – I'd rather get playing," he said. "It's all well and good me thinking, "if I have 15 minutes here and half an hour there..." – but I am glad to have just got straight out there.

"I played the first game and I was sluggish as far as my fitness was concerned, but my actual ankle was great and I was happy to have got through 80 minutes. Then the other day in Biarritz, in another heavy game, I felt I took another step. I think my match fitness and personal game will come back the more I play.

"As far as the team is concerned, we are on a losing run and confidence is knocked a little bit, but hopefully it will come good at the weekend."