BEN SKIRVING hopes a sustained run in the Saracens team will result in a first senior cap for England.

The strapping number eight marked his latest comeback from injury with his first start of the season in the Men in Black's destruction of Bath last weekend, and the performance has made "Skirvs" hungry for more.

The 23-year-old suffered medial ligament damage to his knee in training before the pre-season match against Rotherham but has now battled back to full fitness, and not for the first time.

Skirving's progress has been blighted by two shoulder injuries in the past two seasons but he now hopes his run of bad luck is over as he aims to establish himself as one of the first names down on Alan Gaffney's team-sheet.

"I was very pleased and relieved to get back on to the pitch against Bath," he said. "I had a quiet game compared to what I wanted, but it was really about getting a game under my belt to get some fitness. I was a bit off the pace but I'll be raring to go on Sunday, where I hope to get into the game more and do more ball carries."

Skirving could be forgiven for feeling more than a little apprehensive about being plunged into the rough and tumble of competitive rugby after a lengthy lay-off, but said the thought never entered his head.

"You have to put things like that to the back of your mind," he said. "If I started worrying about getting injured again I wouldn't be doing well for the team.

"Bath are a very good side and we were expecting a backlash from their defeat to Ospreys in the cup the previous week. But we produced an all-round team performance and it all seemed to come right for us."

Having regained his place in the starting line-up, Skirving is desperate to reignite his England career. He has represented his country between Under-16 and Under-21 level and, along with club-mates David Seymour and Richard Haughton, forms part of the Senior National Academy squad.

"Of course, the aim is to get in the England squad and win my first senior cap this season," he admitted. "If I play well for Saracens you never know what might happen. I had a good run of 23 games last year and I'd be delighted to beat that this season."