Harlequins scrum half Karl Dickson has insisted it is great to have so much competition for the England number nine shirt even if one rival is his own brother.

The 29-year-old, recently returned from a finger injury, enjoyed a spell in the England senior squad as injury cover for younger brother Lee earlier in the Six Nations.

It came after the former Bedford Blues star had been named in the England Saxons squad, although the finger problem would prevent him from making his representative bow.

Dickson has come a long way since being given a surprise chance in the top flight by disgraced former Stoop chief Dean Richards in 2009.

But he has since established himself as a major Premiership player and is considered by Quins director of rugby Conor O’Shea to be among the top five number nines in the country.

And you would not bet against him making the next step sooner rather than later.

“Me and my brother are pretty close so, while it was nice to get the chance to train with the boys and go through a few moves in the England set-up, it was disappointing because Lee was injured,” he said.

“I enjoyed the opportunity and it was good to be next in line, but it was great Lee got his chance to play.

“Although Ben Youngs is out of form at the moment there is great competition all fighting for that spot, so I’ve just got to keep playing well and hopefully I’ll get a go with England again.”

Dickson’s route to the top has not been a classic academy to first team journey with the the Salisbury-born star spending a brief spell at Midlands club Lichfield between leaving university and joining Bedford Blues in 2004 – where he combined playing with a full-time job.

He made his 50th appearance for Quins in Saturday’s 29-23 defeat at Gloucester – which featured a Ross Chisholm brace and a further 13 points from Nick Evans.

But, despite the defeat, Dickson believed it was a performance that can only bode well for the Premiership run in.

“We’ve got through the worst of the winter months and this has been the first opportunity we’ve had to play the sort of rugby we enjoy most on ground that suits us,” he added, ahead of tonight’s trip to struggling Newcastle Falcons.

“If we can get a result at Newcastle we’ll be on the way to a home draw in the play-offs.

“We are in a very good position at the moment.”