GUTTED Luke Robinson feels his England Four Nations snub could prove a blessing in disguise.

The 27-year-old Giants star was a surprise ommission from Steve McNamara’s 24-man squad for this autumn’s international series.

Huddersfield teammate Danny Brough also missed out after struggling to re-discover his top form after suffering a serious ankle injury in June, although Leroy Cudjoe has retained his England spot.

Robinson would have loved to have been alongside Cudjoe to face Australia, New Zealand and Wales.

But the hooker or half-back will now go in for elbow surgery on Monday instead, which he feels will help lessen his England pain.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised when I was told I hadn’t been selected,” said Robinson.

“I felt I’d played well for England in last season’s Four Nations and I also felt I did well against the Exiles in June this year. I thought that would have been good enough.

“But Steve told me he felt my form had dipped at the same time the Giants’ form had dipped at the end of the season, and that cost me.

“That’s the way he saw it with Broughy, too.

“Obviously, I’ve found that a bit tough to take, but I’ve accepted it.

“And this piece of bad news does mean I’ve now got a bit of time to get over my many niggles and I’ll return for pre-season feeling fresh.”

Robinson was due to wait until the end of the Four Nations to undergo a further operation on an elbow originally damaged eight years ago!

He has been told he’ll make a full recovery within six weeks, during which time he’ll also be able to rest a painful shoulder injury.

“Pre-season at the Giants will start on November 7, and I could now be back for that,” he added.

“Obviously, if I’d been involved with England that wouldn’t have been the case.

“It also means I’ll have the chance to make a proper recovery from a shoulder problem which has been causing me problems for eight to 10 weeks. Rest is the only cure for that.

“So while I would have bitten Steve’s had off to play for England again, I know he could have done me a favour in the long term.”