Tony Hanks’ Wasps, who started the season with three straight Guinness Premiership wins, are in danger of finishing a second season on the bounce trophyless.

But after spending his rehabilitation alongside injured England prop Phil Vickery – Rees is determined to match the drive of his veteran team-mate to make it back fighting fit for a late-season Wasps’ play-off push.

Rees said: “It is a massive boost to see players coming back from injury. You see guys who have gone through far worse than I have but they get back and get playing.

“Phil Vickery is a shining example to me, he is a guy who has decided what he wants to do and he keeps doing it. He is doing what he has to do.

“The low point for me was when I discovered I was going to need a second operation but, once I got my head screwed back on, I realised there was nothing else to do but get on with it.

“It’s not fair on my part to criticise the way the guys are playing, certainly in the last two weeks it has been plain to see the effort and the endeavour from the team but unfortunately we have come up short.

“The only frustration is that as a club we feel we’ve not quite done what we need to, there is no frustration on my part towards the team.”

With a return to club rugby seemingly imminent, many will wonder whether Rees can ever recreate the devastating international form that saw him once nullify All Blacks’ flanker Richie McCaw during the 2008 tour of New Zealand.

But Rees, who has long been tipped as a future England captain, insists rejoining Martin Johnson’s men could not be further from his mind.

For the time being, Rees insists his thoughts are solely focused on a return to Adams Park, which is still six weeks away, to the black and gold colours of his club-side.

He added: “The England captaincy is not something that has ever really been on my radar, I don’t think you should ever say you want that job.

“Of course if it comes your way it would be an honour to take it but it is not something I am working towards.

“I’m just working towards playing rugby again and in terms of even getting back in the England squad, we will just have to see how I go.

“It is down to me to earn my right to be back in the Wasps team. I want to be back and I want to help out – England is not in my mind at present.”