Danny Cipriani is not thinking of an England return even though injury to Jonny Wilkinson may have opened up an opportunity.

Wasps fly-half Cipriani is only in the early stages of a comeback after suffering an horrific ankle injury last season. The 20-year-old is six weeks ahead of schedule and played against Bath last Wednesday but is not rushing and pulled out of Saturday’s EDF Energy Cup defeat at Gloucester with soreness.

“I feel dreadfully sorry for Johnny, the fact that he’s done so much work to get back fit and got fit and was playing well and unfortunately the (knee) injury happened to him and I wouldn’t wish an injury on any player whatsoever,” Cipriani told BBC’s Inside Sport programme. “It is ironic but I need to think about getting back playing for Wasps - I can’t think about England at the minute.”

He added: “I need to think about playing for Wasps and playing well. I’ve only just come back from injury so I need to get a few games under my belt and play well for the club.”

Yet looking to the long-term, Cipriani believes there are exciting times ahead for England as they move into a new era under the guidance of Martin Johnson as team manager.

“I think any English fan undoubtedly knows that England could be up there with the best in the world again because there are two or three players in each position that could take England to be a world-class side again,” he said.

“You’ve got a ridiculous amount of back-row players and a whole heap of others that can take England forward.

“There’s so much to choose from that if we get it right and get that structure in place, England are going to be world-beaters again.”