Having overcome a hat-trick of metatarsal injuries - all to his left foot - Strettle missed Harlequins' march to the Guinness Premiership play-offs with an ankle problem.

Back in the treatment room yet again, it was the latest blow to a player who has been restricted to six caps since making an impressive debut against Ireland in 2007.

Injury prevented him from featuring in the World Cup two years ago and two RBS 6 Nations tournaments but he is ready to make his presence felt against the Barbarians and Argentina this summer.

"It's been a season of vast frustration, like last season. Sometimes I do feel cursed," said the 25-year-old.

"The second time I injured the metatarsal I was upset, the third time it was more disbelief.

"If it hadn't been for (Harlequins director of rugby) Dean Richards, who spoke to me about when he missed a season with a shoulder injury, it would have been harder. All players go through these spells.

"Every player expects to get injured but the biggest shame for me is that when I've missed things it's been big - a World Cup, Six Nations, autumn internationals and Quins doing the double over Stade Francais.

"I hope I've had more than my share now. You just have to get on with it.

"When I started playing for England it wasn't so difficult to deal with the injuries because there weren't many boys at Quins playing for them as well so if I missed a game I wasn't constantly reminded of it.

"Now there are guys like Danny Care and Ugo Monye playing for England, too. When they go away it's like a reminder what you're missing out on."

England name their team to face the Barbarians on Wednesday and Strettle hopes to be involved after returning to training last week.

"I had my first training session last Wednesday after four weeks of being kept off my feet," he said.

"It was 90 minutes of full contact and that's what I needed - it felt like a slap in the face."