Tindall has been restricted to six appearances for Gloucester this season

Gloucester centre Mike Tindall says a return to fitness does not mean an automatic return to the team.

The 31-year-old made his first start since 30 October in the win over Sale.

He told BBC Gloucestershire; "Eliota (Fuimaono-Sapolu) and Tim (Molenaar)have been outstanding, especially since the turn of the year.

"Those two don't deserve to get dropped and I have to earn my stripes. They are playing well and that puts pressure on me but I'm happy with that."

The England centre has been troubled by a hamstring injury since the away win at Leeds, and had to come off in his comeback game at Edgeley Park.

He played 40 minutes last Saturday with no reaction, and is again in contention to face Wasps in the Premiership on Sunday.

Normally I do things the other way round I play the first 23 games and then miss the good stuff at the end Gloucester centre Mike Tindall

Gloucester have won six of their last eight games in all competitions and Tindall puts that down to better execution.

He said: "The change has been that our basic error count has been so much better. At the start of the year, we played some good stuff at times but always ended up shooting ourselves in the foot, turning ball over in opposition 22s or not taking opportunities.

"Now we seem to be much more clinical, and when we get opportunities we are finishing them."

Gloucester sit seventh in the Premiership table with seven games to play, and Tindall is glad to be fit for the business end of the season.

"Normally I do things the other way round," he said. "I play the first 23 games and then miss the good stuff at the end.

"As for Wasps, you look at how many tries we've scored over the last few weeks and what we can do if we get into our game, we've just got to go down there with as much confidence as we can and take them on."

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