Christian Wade: London Wasps winger targets England role

London Wasps winger Christian Wade has set the goal of establishing himself in the England team this season.

The 22-year-old made his debut against Argentina in June and joined up with the British & Irish Lions this summer.

He is now in England head coach Stuart Lancaster's Elite Performance Squad after finishing as last season's joint-highest Premiership try-scorer.

He said: "My goal is to establish myself now. I'd like to try to cement a place in the team."

Seen to be in competition with Saracens winger Chris Ashton for an international place, Wade says he wants to focus on his form and put questions about selection matters aside.

"With the team it is about what the coaches want," Wade told BBC London. "The media can talk but it is not the media who choose the team.

"Me, Chris Ashton and any other wingers need to play our game and whoever is on form and doing well - and depending on how he [Stuart Lancaster] wants to play - will get selected for England.

"I don't see any pressures. It will cause your form to go down if you are thinking about things you can't control - that is the way I cope with it."

This summer, Wade has played for England against the Barbarians at Twickenham, made his Test debut in South America and then travelled to Australia after being drafted into the Lions squad.

He admits the Lions call-up was a "total shock", adding: "I was focusing on doing well for my club and trying to get on [England's] summer tour to Argentina.

"I saw how well [the Lions] were playing but also saw people dropping like flies with injury - but I never thought I would get the call-up to go.

"Hopefully I can continue to work on my game and try and get myself into the initial squad for a Lions Test series."

As for his club side, London Wasps begin the new Aviva Premiership campaign against 2012 champions Harlequins at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Adams Park outfit finished in eighth last season but have brought in 17 new faces over the summer, including prop Matt Mullan and fly-half Andy Goode from Worcester, and back-row utility player Guy Thompson from Jersey.

High Wycombe-born Wade said: "We have been brought in early this year to work hard with all the new boys coming in. We are in a better place with some great personnel who can manage games a bit better.

"It would be great for all of us to come though and come away with some silverware."

Interview with Christian Wade by BBC London's Sara Orchard.