By Bryn Palmer

With Wilkinson injured Hodgson can reignite his England career

Charlie Hodgson refuses to look beyond the next fortnight of his fledgling Test career despite being touted as Jonny Wilkinson's long-term rival.

The Sale fly-half is likely to replace the absent Wilkinson when England play New Zealand next week after battling back from horrendous injury problems.

"It is a massive challenge but I am feeling fresh and strong," he said.

"I have learnt not to look too far into the future because you can have your dreams shattered."

Hodgson would have many more than the eight caps he has won to date but for a serious knee injury that he suffered against Italy during last year's Six Nations championship.

The 23-year-old's recovery came too late for the World Cup, and a further knee problem on his return also forced him to miss this year's Six Nations campaign.

If I get a chance against New Zealand and Australia I have to play really well England fly-half Charlie Hodgson

"It was very difficult last year to lose contact with the England set-up," he admitted.

"But with that amount of time out (eight months initially), you learn how to cope and become mentally stronger for it.

"There was not a lot I could do about it, so if you accept it straight away you can get on with the hard work of getting back.

"The hardest part was knowing the type of injury I had and how long the rehabilitation process was going to be.

"The low point was when the guys won the World Cup and thinking I might have been involved in it if I was fit.

"But I am looking to the future now and this tour is another chance to get involved again.

Dawson keeps his focus

"If I get a chance against New Zealand and Australia I have to play really well."

Hodgson, who marked his Test debut with a record 44-point haul against Romania in 2001, has happy memories of his only previous Test on foreign soil.

The Sale fly-half contributed 13 points to a stirring 26-18 victory by a second-string England side over Argentina in Buenos Aires two summers ago.

If his performance that day was an indicator of his burgeoning potential, the next few weeks may see a precocious talent start to blossom once more.

"It does take a while to get back to where you were," Hodgson added.

"I feel my confidence is growing with each game I play, even if it is not quite up to what it was yet. But it is getting close."