Olly Barkley believes Brian Ashton can be the man to bring pride back to the fallen World Cup champions.
Jack Rowell, Bath's director of rugby, last night gave his club coach the green light to take up any England appointment offered by the Rugby Football Union as they look to revive fortunes in the build-up to next year's World Cup.
And Barkley said: ``England would benefit hugely with him at the moment.
``I think if those things on the mental side of the game are tweaked a bit, England can be back where they were.
``I think he would control their attack and bring in a few fresh ideas.''
Ashton, who only rejoined the west country club in the new year, has been linked with the position of backs coach.
And Barkley, Bath's 24-year-old centre or fly-half, added: ``I can understand why he wants to coach at the top level.
``One thing he has done with us is instilling belief and confidence. I will be disappointed and sad myself if he goes because he has helped me a lot and I will lose time with him.''
Ashton himself today refused to be drawn on the possibility of returning to the national team.
And a statement from the club, issued by chief executive Bob Calleja, did not throw any new light on the subject.
It read: ``Given the media speculation surrounding the future of Brian Ashton, Bath Rugby would like to clarify that there has been no formal approach from the RFU regarding a possible move to a coaching position with England.
``Until such an approach is made, such suggestions remain pure conjecture. Brian Ashton is on a long-term contract with Bath Rugby.
``We recognised his ability as a coach and gave him the hands-on opportunity at Bath Rugby that he wanted and, naturally, we would like to retain his services.''
Bath, though, have a history of not standing in the way of ambitious players or management. Ashton's predecessor at the club, John Connolly, is now Australia coach.
Connolly has ex-Wallabies hooker Michael Foley, initially head coach but then forwards boss at The Recreation Ground, as a lieutenant down under.
Ashton himself was concentrating on Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final with Biarritz in San Sebastian.
Ashton has a fully-fit squad to choose from, and he said: ``I think this is a phenomenal opportunity for us.
``We have watched Biarritz play, not least two weeks ago against Toulouse, so we know what they are capable of.
``I would feel very disappointed if any team under my direction went out there and didn't play with courage.
``I'm not talking about a physical courage, I'm talking about mental courage and the confidence to have a real go at the opposition.
``I can't see the point of leaving the dressing room unless you're prepared to do that.
``I wouldn't say there is any talk of lack of ambition this week but what we have talked about is we are going to give it a go and I will be bitterly disappointed if we don't.''
Bath have reached the semi-finals the hard way, beating Premiership rivals Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.
Ashton added: ``It doesn't faze us who we are playing against or where we are playing. We can adapt in the middle of a game, hopefully, and we will not be intimidated by playing away from home and outside our country.
``But if we start making the mistakes we did in the first 10 minutes of the second half against Bristol last week, they have got guys who will punish us big time.
``You are playing right at the top of the club game in the northern hemisphere in a football stadium in northern Spain, it's just a unique experience.''
Ashton also revealed Biarritz ace Dimitri Yachvili's comments in the media had fired up his squad.
``I heard he wrote in one of the national newspapers this week that he hates Bath which has given our lads a bit of a fillip. He's a Gloucester boy, for some reason, in that he played there for a season.''
Bath will name their team on Friday with the possibility of Barkley occupying the inside centre position with Australian Chris Malone at fly-half.