Ugo Monye has revealed that he turned down lucrative moves to France in an attempt to revive his England career.
Hunger
England backs coach Andy Farrell has seen a renewed vigour about Monye's game, a hunger to improve this season that had not been as evident in recent years.
"Sometimes when you lose a bit of confidence it can give the impression that your hunger has gone because you are trying to find your feet and get your basics back,'' Monye said.
"Fortunately for me I am playing with confidence now, scoring tries and Quins are flying high at the top of the Premiership. I have got a hunger.
"This is the time when I feel I have deserved England selection the most - even more then when I got my first cap.''
Monye toured with England in the summer and the environment he has found under Stuart Lancaster is poles apart from the one he experienced under Martin Johnson.
"The last time I was involved with England, we weren't going well as a team,'' he said.
"It was a poor game at Murrayfield. It was wet - as it normally is against Scotland - it was a draw and then I got knocked out on top of all that. You never want to be carried off the pitch.
"I guess that was my last memory of playing for England. It would be nice to get some better ones.
"Watching the development of the guys over the last year, and having been here in camp for the last couple of days, I am so excited because I feel I can really make an impact on the team.
"We have a confident squad with a lot of players who are playing well for their clubs and we have a really good team bond and a real understanding of where we want to go. That is so powerful.
"I'm probably more excited now than I was when I won my first cap. Once England is taken away from you, I think you appreciate it even more. If the opportunity comes I'll be buzzing.''
