"I'm looking forward to working with Martin Johnson. He's like Lawrence, a giant of the game with real presence who has always brought the best out of English rugby." Wasps and England winger Paul Sackey talks to Scrum.com

Good news for England fans, who are entitled to feel that they're overdue some. Paul Sackey, their most effective wing over the past two years expects to be fully fit from the start of the season after spending the summer receiving treatment for the injuries that ruled him out of the New Zealand tour.

"I'm still in rehab. I had an operation on my finger and we're working on the knee injury, but it isn't long term and I'll be back to full fitness before the beginning of the season. It's a lot better and should be stronger than it was before. The physios and fitness people here at Wasps have done a terrific job", he said over the weekend.

Being injured, he confirms, is no fun :"You come in early for rehab while everybody else is in later for normal training, so you miss them and the banter and camaraderie that is a really important part of rugby."

He wasn't entirely on his own, though, with Danny Cipriani also working on a longer-term return to fitness, on which he can offer more encouraging news :"He's progressing really well and hopes to be back for the Six Nations. I know it isn't just Wasps and England fans, but the whole of rugby that wishes him well and looks forward to seeing him back on the field."

If he wanted any further reason for wanting to be fit for the start of the season, the Guinness Premiership fixture planners have managed it by matching Wasps with his former club London Irish in the opening day Twickenham double-header on 6th September.

He says :"I'm looking forward to it. Twickenham, a big crowd and perhaps some sunshine. I can't wait to get back out there, and playing against Irish always adds something extra for me."

Wasps will be aiming to retain their Premiership title and reclaim the Heineken trophy lost before the playoff stages last season.

This season's draw against Castres, Leinster and Edinburgh looks somewhat less fearsome than last time out's match-up with Munster, Clermont and Llanelli, but Sackey warns :"Anyone in the Heineken is tough and a potential winner. You have to treat every match as a knock-out and every opponent as dangerous. They're three good teams."

And Wasps, of course, must do it all without Lawrence Dallaglio - a real step into the unknown for them. Sackey says :"We were talking about this the other day and agreed that we don't really know what it will be like until we actually start playing matches without him.

"He was such a massive presence for us, not just on the pitch but in the dressing room. Part of his impact was that other teams were so aware of him. He's a real loss to us and to English rugby."

As one giant departs another returns, with Martin Johnson taking over the England team. Sackey was understandably delighted to be named in his first 32-man elite squad :" It is a great feeling whenever you are named in an England squad. You always wonder what will happen after you've been injured - I had no chance to prove myself in New Zealand - or when there are new people in charge. And I'm looking forward to working with Martin Johnson. He's like Lawrence, a giant of the game with real presence who has always brought the best out of English rugby."

He was also pleased to see Wasps team-mate Riki Flutey, now qualified for England, named to the elite squad at the first opportunity :"Riki's an awesome talent who really deserved to be Player of the Year.

"He's great to play alongside because he is capable of so much himself that he forces opponents to pay him extra attention and gives the people around him more space. He's powerful and has great hands - he can make a break himself or put the people outside him into a gap."

Beyond Wasps and England lie the Lions tour. Sackey chuckles at the suggestion that he could hardly be better placed to make an impression on those making the big decisions for the tour with club coach Ian McGeechan taking charge of the Lions but says :"Of course I'm very keen to go on the Lions tour.

"But I've got a huge challenge getting back into the Wasps side, never mind England. We've got some great players and I know I'll have to be at my best to have a chance of getting back. If it all goes well I can think about the Lions, but I have to do well with Wasps to make other things possible."

If having your feet on the ground gets you anywhere, then Paul Sackey is well on the way to reclaiming his places in club and international rugby.

Paul Sackey is supporting O2's Scrum on the Beach series - part of the RFU's Play On Rugby campaign. For more information on the events and how to get involved visit www.o2.co.uk/scrum or O2 customers can text ' SCRUM' to 2020