Injured England winger David Strettle hopes to be in contention for the final RBS 6 Nations game of the season against Ireland.

Strettle broke a metatarsal just 10 minutes into England's opening fixture against Wales and has been sidelined for five frustrating weeks.

The 24-year-old is to undergo another X-ray on his foot next week when a decision will be made about a potential return date.

The injury has been particularly frustrating for Strettle because he missed out on the summer tour of South Africa through illness and the World Cup from a different metatarsal break.

Strettle has not been able to build on the immediate impact he made on international rugby in the 2007 Six Nations.

But he tries to take a philosophical view of it as he explained: "My injuries have not been serious but they have been badly timed.

"If I had done my injury a week after the World Cup I don't think anyone would have even noticed.

"When it happened against Wales for the second time I was thinking: 'What is going on?. I had played so many games for Harlequins without a problem. But that is life.

"I have played enough games now for Harlequins that people do know what I am about.

"You have to remind people of it - but this is an injury and I can't do anything about it. You just hope the rugby world realise that these things happen in the sport."

Strettle's absence has opened the door for Tonga-born winger Lesley Vainikolo, whose pace and power have not yet been utilised to maximum effect by England this tournament.

Strettle would like to see Vainikolo given the chance to come infield, perhaps slot in at outside centre for a few phases and ask different questions of opposing defences.

He continued: "Lesley's involvement in the game can be summed up in his try-scoring in rugby league. You don't score a try a game by standing shyly on the wing.

"I think it is up to the team to get him involved more. If he hasn't had the ball for a while, maybe call a move so that he does.

"Put him at 13 for a move or two and bring him back on a switch with the fly-half so he can attack the 10 channel.

"He has not had many opportunities - but the one opportunity he did get, against Italy, he threw a few bodies around and showed we he was picked."

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