By Mark Orlovac

Cueto has been in superb form for Sale so far this season

Sale wing Mark Cueto finally gets his chance to make his mark on the international stage when he lines up for England against Canada.

The 24-year-old has yet to win a cap for his country but is determined to continue his club form this weekend.

"I did not imagine I would make it four years after starting in the Premiership," he said.

"This is a real opportunity. I am not looking to the other Tests, I am only concentrating on this weekend."

The road to the highest level has been an arduous one for a player who seemed to have made his breakthrough early.

I have always tried to always keep England only at the back of my mind and I have tried not to let it affect my club form Mark Cueto

He made his Sale debut in 2001 but, despite being named in the squad for England's tour of Argentina the following year, he did not make the Test team.

However, Cueto has now forced his way into the England XV after scoring five tries in eight games to help his club claim top spot in the Premiership.

And with a new management team in charge of England, twinned with Ben Cohen's loss of form, Cueto now has a golden opportunity.

Cueto's selection has forced Ben Cohen to drop to the bench

"It was a bit of a shock to be named in the team but great news," he said.

"It's been difficult to keep my emotions in check. You find yourself analysing every aspect of your game.

"Playing for England was always at the back of my mind. From the minute you start making a few steady appearances for your club you start to dream and set targets.

"But I have always tried to keep England only at the back of my mind and I have tried not to let it affect my club form."

The tour to Argentina in 2002 was a pivotal moment in Cueto's development even though the England management said he had much more to learn.

"I was disappointed by how that tour ended but it was a great finish to a brilliant season," he said.

"I'd only been playing the game a short time and it was a superb achievement for me just to be on that tour.

"There were areas of my game that I had to improve, my general skills, getting involved more in the game and awareness and positioning.

I have to be confident that I can take my club form into international level Mark Cueto

"Looking for work is now a massive part of my game. If you just stay on the wing it is quite easy for the game to pass you by. That's what came out of the Argentina tour."

Cueto, who featured for the England XV which took on the Barbarians last year, was a keen footballer in his youth and played for South Cheshire together with Kenny Lunt, who plays for Crewe, and West Bromwich Albion striker Rob Hulse.

It was not until sixth form at school in Crewe that his rugby talent started to emerge and a teacher at St Thomas Moore High School saw Cueto in a knock-about and told Sale to sign him.

He has never looked back and after scoring on his Sale debut against Bristol in 2001, he went on to become the Premiership's top try scorer in 2002/3 with 13.

And despite the setbacks which have dogged his rise through the ranks, Cueto is in a positive frame of mind as he approaches this weekend.

"I have to be confident that I can take my club form into international level," he said.

"As soon as you start doubting your own ability then your confidence drops and that's when your form drops off."