England and Saracens scrum-half Kyran Bracken is determined to push himself harder than ever to return from injury with a vengeance for club and country.

Bracken, who returned to full training just last week after the best part of a year out of the game with a persistent back injury, is hoping to be fit for selection at Newcastle in the Allied Dunbar Premiership this weekend.

Fresh from his first full training session back, Bracken admitted there is still a long way to go to be truly match-fit.

He said: ``Now the real hard work starts. Nick (Walshe) and Matt (Powell) have played well this season and I'm really going to have to push myself harder to get myself into contention for a place in the starting line-up.''

Bracken thanked the club's medical team for helping him regain his fitness but confessed the long, hard winter out of the limelight has been difficult to bear.

``It's been tough over the last 10 months, watching the team from the sidelines. I've been desperate to get involved,'' he told the club's official website.

Now, though, he is optimistic that a return is imminent and said: ``I am awaiting an assessment from the medical team after today's session to see if I can declare myself available for selection for this weekend's game. Fingers
crossed.''