Harlequins' Nick Easter willing to return to the England squad

Nick Easter says he would be willing and is better equipped to return to the England set-up if required for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.

Ben Morgan, who usurped Billy Vunipola as first choice last autumn, is certain to miss the entire tournament with the broken leg suffered on Gloucester duty on Friday night.

An exact time frame for Morgan's recovery has yet to be outlined, but he is unlikely to play again this season in a setback that places his participation at the World Cup later this year in doubt.

While Vunipola fits England head coach Lancaster's preference for a powerful ball-carrier at the base of the scrum, the 22-year-old lost ground during the autumn after error-prone displays against New Zealand and South Africa saw him dropped from the squad.

One possible solution for the Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff on Friday, February 6 is Easter, who used the occasion of his 250th appearance for Harlequins to produce a man-of-the-match display against Leicester that revived calls for his Test return.

The 36-year-old won the last of his 47 caps at the 2011 World Cup, but his club form has been rewarded with a new two-year contract and offered hope that Lancaster may turn his gaze to Twickenham Stoop to replace Morgan.

"I think I am better than three years ago. I'm making miles better decisions and that comes with experience," Easter said.

"The body's in as good a shape as it has ever been. I've managed to look after it and I suppose I've been quite lucky."

Quins director of rugby Conor O'Shea revealed after Saturday's 32-12 Aviva Premiership victory over the Tigers that Lancaster did not expect Easter to remain a force by the time England 2015 arrived, hence the absence of Red Rose contact since October 2012.

"It did seem to be the case that I wouldn't be around for the World Cup, but I like to prove people wrong. Is England a driver? One hundred per cent. You always have that carrot," Easter said.

"I spoke to Stuart about age when he told me I wouldn't be in his first Six Nations squad. I said that at the last few World Cups you had (older) players like Brad Thorn, Os du Randt and Neil Back.

"At the time he said he wanted to blood some guys, to find out about them. I thought that was a good thing to do, bring these new guys through.

"I'll carry on enjoying my rugby and it is up to the selectors. Sometimes your face fits, sometimes it doesn't."