Burrell aims to get shirty for England
LUTHER BURRELL wants his England shirt back and is aiming to nick a Welsh top too next month in Cardiff after being knocked back for one last year.
Gutted Burrell, 27, missed the autumn internationals with a hand injury after making his Test debut a year ago and touring New Zealand in the summer, but is set to return against Wales in the Six Nations opener on February 6.
And he is aiming to fill a gaping hole in his memorabilia collection after England have opened up World Cup year at the Millennium Stadium.
The Northampton centre has Brian O’Driscoll’s Ireland jersey hanging up in his kitchen after swapping with the legendary midfielder during last year’s tournament.
And he has kit from Kiwi great Conrad Smith, French giant Mathieu Bastareaud and Scotland’s Alex Dunbar – but drew a blank after the 29-18 victory over the Welsh last March.
Burrell said: “Smith’s from New Zealand, O’Driscoll’s and Basteraud’s which is pretty big, but the Welsh centre Jonathan Davies didn’t give me his so I will be after one of them. I have my first England shirt framed with my cap so they are all going in the lounge eventually. People are trying to steal them off me, left, right and centre, but something like that I am not going to give away.”
Burrell has won seven caps but missed out in the November Tests despite recovering from injury in time for the clashes against Samoa and Australia.
He trained with the England squad but was sent home early in both weeks to hook up with Northampton for their domestic games.
England boss Stuart Lancaster names his Six Nations squad on Wednesday, but first Burrell has a European date with the Ospreys in Swansea today.
Burrell added: “I was with the squad at the start of the week in November, so I had a taste for it.
‘‘It is one of the weirdest feelings going into camp and having that buzz, being so close and then having a meeting with the coach and being told, ‘We are not going to use you this week.’
‘‘It is very frustrating and is something that drives you during the week, to get out on the pitch at the weekend and keep banging on the door.
“I have an eye on the Six Nations. Any young player who has had a taste of it will – it will be in the back of your head.”