Wasps star Danny Cipriani has vowed to regain the England No.10 jersey from Jonny Wilkinson this season after finally returning to full fitness.

The 21-year-old flyhalf has had a three-inch metal plate removed from his right ankle and is running pain free for the first time since suffering the serious injury in May last year.

Cipriani struggled to regain his form for Wasps until the closing weeks of last season and finished a troubled campaign on the bench for the England Saxons.

While Wilkinson was selected in Martin Johnson's senior England squad in July despite not having played for nine months, Cipriani was again chosen for the second string.

But with the metalwork now gone, Cipriani is ready to prove to Johnson that he is the right man to tackle Australia in England's first November international.

"They have picked Jonny for their reasons and now it is down me to go out there and do the best I can to make sure I am selected," Cipriani said.

"I had the operation on July 1 and the fact it felt so much better afterwards was a big deal. I didn't have the same kind of pain in my Achilles and that made a big difference.

"My form was coming back at the end of last season. I was enjoying my rugby and with the ankle being pain free, it is off my mind and allows me to just go out and play.

"I love playing for England and that is what my ambition has been since I was 10 or 11 years old.

"I don't think I came back too quickly. Perhaps before playing for England I would have liked to have a bit more game-time but I don't think anyone would have turned that opportunity down.

"It didn't go as well as I would have liked it to. It was a challenge for me to rediscover my form and move forward from it."

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