There were times when I thought I had missed the boat with England Paul Sackey

Paul Sackey hopes to give England coach Andy Robinson a selection headache when he makes his Test debut on Sunday.

The 26-year-old, a prolific try-scorer in the Premiership, was drafted in to face New Zealand after Mark Cueto succumbed to an ankle injury.

"Mark and I are good friends," Sackey said. "He is a great player, and I just hope he gets back fit and firing in the next couple of weeks.

"I am going to try to take my chance and give Andy Robinson a problem."

Sackey made the decision to put all his efforts into challenging for next year's World Cup by putting himself through a punishing pre-season fitness regime, working with renowned sprint coach Margot Wells.

Sackey paid for the 45-minute one-on-one sessions in Guildford himself, and his blistering start to the new campaign has now culminated in an England call-up.

"There were times in the past when I thought I had missed the boat with England, but at the back end of last season I thought to myself that maybe this season would be my last chance to press my claims for the World Cup.

"I had a few little niggling injuries so I didn't go on any summer tours, and I just got back into the swing of things with my club and Margot Wells.

"She has helped me to focus more, and the sessions were short and sharp. It has been a combination of Margot, the coaches at Wasps and my commitment."

Sackey came close to a possible career in professional football, having had trials as a teenager at Crystal Palace, Reading and Aston Villa.

I am still pinching myself - only 16 months ago I was in a full-time job outside of rugby Scrum-half Shaun Perry

"I was really gutted at the time because I wanted to be a footballer when I was younger," he said.

"But my school was predominantly a rugby school and I was spotted by an agent playing for my school in the National Sevens at Rosslyn Park."

Sackey will be making his debut alongside two other rookies, 20-year-old Gloucester centre Anthony Allen and Bristol scrum-half Shaun Perry.

Perry, at 28, is a late developer but the former welder is in only his second season of Premiership rugby.

"To make your debut for England is a great honour and a great achievement," he said.

"But I cannot get wrapped up in the occasion. I have got to do my basics, as I do every week for Bristol.

"It is all a bit surreal, but I put a lot of it down to (Bristol head coach) Richard Hill. He is a good mentor and keeps my feet on the ground.