Currently out of both the Saxons and full England training squads, Lamb has concentrated on performing for the Exiles this term, producing a string of impressive performances, including scoring every point in a 16-0 win against Bath in November.

London Irish are currently in the Guinness Premiership play-off places and also sit pretty in Pool 6 of the Heineken Cup, with the Exiles stunning early-season form in part down to Lamb's’s expansive game.

Lamb refuses to be frustrated despite the likes of Shane Geraghty, Danny Cipriani, Stephen Myler, Andy Goode, Toby Flood and Wilkinson all supposedly being ahead of him in the England reckoning.

And after watching the likes of club-mates Nick Kennedy, Steffon Armitage, Delon Armitage, Paul Hodgson, Topsy Ojo and David Paice all receive international honours under England boss Martin Johnson – Lamb is content to be patient for the tine being.

“London Irish is a great place to play rugby and I’m sure we’ll exceed our expectations this season,” said Lamb.

“It showed with Delon and Steffon that if you are playing well for your club, you’ll get noticed for England – I want to do the same.

“They had their chance on the international stage and took it and I want to make sure I get a chance now. The only way I’m going to get that though is by playing good rugby for London Irish.

“I’m sure the call will come if I carry on playing as I have but you can’t look too far ahead in this game.

“I haven’t heard anything from England this season but that is not surprising considering I’m not even in the Saxons squad at the moment.

“I know I didn’t have a very good year last year at Gloucester but I’m doing better this year and I want to get my foot back in the England door.

“There are a lot of good players around in my position but I know I will get noticed if I just keep playing well.”

Moving from Gloucester was a massive decision but playing in a side dubbed ‘bottlers’ by the likes of Sky commentator Stuart Barnes, where the young fly-half was often former boss Dean Ryan’s sacrificial Lamb was tough.

Rejuvenated under the watchful eye of evergreen World Cup winner Mike Catt – Lamb reveals he hasn’t regretted his move from Kingsholm even for one second.

“I love it here,” added Lamb. “Results haven’t been as good as we would have wanted in the last couple of weeks but I’m enjoying it because I’m working with good players and coaches here and it’s good to be a part of it.

“London Irish is my home now. Coming away was obviously a big decision but I’ve come here and I’m playing the style of rugby that I want to play.

“I had some great years at Gloucester but it stagnated. I wanted to come out and make a fresh start and now I have my foot back on the ladder again.

“Irish were the right club at the right time – they are a developing club and they are going in the right direction.

“That’s something I wanted to be part of it. It’s a developing process here where players come through the system and develop all the time and I felt that I could fit into that.

“Everything about Gloucester is rugby, rugby, rugby. The city is focussed on it and even if you go out afterwards, you can’t go anywhere without someone talking to you about it.

“Coming here where it if football based, you can go out and relax a bit better and get away from rugby.”