James O’Connor will begin his bid for a Wallabies return in Britain but Australian coach Ewen McKenzie stresses he needs to be playing Super Rugby next year to be considered for a recall.

The sacked Wallabies star has travelled to the UK to join London Irish, with the English rugby union club set to officially announce his signing at 10am on Tuesday (2100 AEDT).

While the terms of his contract are not yet known, utility back O’Connor on Monday appeared to confirm it would be short term, saying on Twitter he was “London bound for a few months to play some rugby”.

McKenzie was coy on his feelings over the move, hinting he might have preferred the talented 23-year-old to remain in Australia to deal with the behavioural issues which led to his Australian Rugby Union contract being terminated.

The coach, in London ahead of the Wallabies’ clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday, said it was crucial O’Connor returned to Australia next season if he was serious about a recall.

“He’s got to be playing Super Rugby in Australia to be in the mix,” said McKenzie, who did not know any details about the move.

“I don’t know what a few months is. I don’t know how it works.

“In the end, I’ll just watch Super Rugby next year and invest time in the five teams and the players there. The ones that are eligible to play are the ones I’ll be choosing from.”

O’Connor was axed earlier this month after a disciplinary investigation found he had failed to “uphold the behavioural and cultural standards expected within the team”.

It came after an incident in which he was escorted from Perth Airport for drunken behaviour, the morning after he played on the wing in the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship win against Argentina.

McKenzie has kept in contact with O’Connor and, asked whether he preferred him to remain in Australia, the coach said: “I made it clear what my preference was in terms of for him as a person.

“I wasn’t talking to him as a coach, I was talking to him as a person and that’s between me and him.

“… He’s made his own decisions there. I’ve had a lot of discussions with him about what I think’s important but, ultimately, he’s in his shoes and he’s got to make decisions about his life.

“I’ve encouraged him: whatever decision you make, make it the right decision.”

The player said in a statement last week: “I believe the move, for a few months, will be beneficial for me to develop in a different environment and help me to be the best rugby player and person that I can be.

“It will also ensure that I continue playing professional rugby immediately and not wait until early in the new year to resume competition.

“I want to give myself every opportunity to get back into the Wallabies’ side and to represent Australia in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.”