By Matt Slater

Sorrell has first-hand experience of Farrell's potential impact

Rugby league convert Andy Farrell could solve England's midfield malaise, says Saracens team-mate Kevin Sorrell.

Farrell has started the last two games for Sarries at inside centre with the experienced Sorrell outside him.

"He's getting the ball in his hands a lot more at centre and with the skills he brings from rugby league that is exactly what you want," said Sorrell.

"He improved from the Leicester game to the Northampton game and that is in a week. He is a pretty quick learner."

The 31-year-old Farrell switched rugby codes to much fanfare - and considerable expectation - in 2005.

With the Rugby Football Union subsidising the transfer and his wages, it was hoped he would quickly convert his prodigious rugby league skills into match-winning union displays for Saracens and England.

But a combination of injuries, a car crash and uncertainty over his best position has held the former Wigan and Great Britain star back.

(Farrell's) key attributes are his distribution and his ability to work space for other people Kev Sorrell Saracens centre

A rugby league forward, the 16st Farrell has been tried at blind-side flanker and inside centre in the 15-man code.

England's needs look more pressing at inside centre, while Saracens appeared to prefer him in the back row.

Two straight starts at number 12, however, have brought two wins for the Watford-based club and a first Premiership try for Farrell in their 35-13 win at Northampton last Saturday.

Saracens forwards coach Adrian Kennedy was delighted with Farrell's Northampton display, even if it was at inside centre and not number six.

"He showed the right qualities to succeed at inside centre and he's developing his game sense all the time," said the Kiwi coach.

"He's an incisive runner and he ran some great lines. His kicking from hand was also superb - he's capable of playing at the highest level."

Inside centre is a tough position and he needs to learn when to be flat, when to be deep and when to be wide Alan Gaffney Saracens director of rugby

This must have been music to the ears of the England coaching set-up.

If Farrell, who was named the finest rugby league player in the world in 2004, can continue on his steep learning curve he could almost single-handedly solve England's current problems in the backs department.

Sorrell believes England lack a play-maker in the centres - of the type they used to have with either Mike Catt or Will Greenwood - and also a "bit of bulk" across the back line, particularly with Mike Tindall absent.

Sorrell, one of the most consistent and under-rated English centres over the last decade, has been hugely impressed by what he has seen of his latest midfield partner.

"His key attributes are his distribution and his ability to work space for other people," the 29-year-old Sorrell, Saracens' player of the year last season, told BBC Sport.

"In league it's basically two straight lines against one another so you have to pull the defenders out of position and put the ball into space.

"That's what 'Faz' has been able to do now that he is getting his hands on the ball a bit more."

England fans hope to see Farrell in full flight, with ball in hand, soon

Sorrell, who has played 238 games for the club he joined from school, has also seen evidence of Farrell's leadership skills.

Despite being new to the code, Farrell has not been afraid to speak his mind on the pitch, which is hardly surprising for a man who became the youngest-ever captain of Great Britain at the age of 21.

But being ready to help England's defence of their world title next autumn is a tall order for a man who has still only played a handful of games in union, but it is not beyond Farrell, according to Sorrell.

The main difficulties for Farrell are his lack of experience at two key areas in union - the set-piece and the breakdown.

Sorrell, however, is certain that Farrell will learn when to commit to tackles and rucks and when to hang back.

Saracens director of rugby Alan Gaffney agrees with Sorrell that his high-profile student needs time but has all the skills necessary to do succeed.

Speaking after the win over Leicester, the former Munster coach said: "Inside-centre is a tough position and he needs to learn when to be flat, when to be deep and when to be wide. It is all about experience."

Anybody who has witnessed England's faltering performances since 2003 will know that they badly need both added panache and power to unlock international defences next year.