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Steve Thompson will discover on Wednesday whether his England "trial" against the Barbarians was enough to secure his place in the team to face Argentina.

England manager Martin Johnson will name his strongest side for Saturday's series opener at Old Trafford with Thompson poised to make his Test comeback.

"It's been a long road and I've taken a step closer to getting my England shirt back," Thompson (pictured) said. "I was told I was only on trial against the Barbarians and I'll have to find out how that went."

The World Cup winner played the final quarter of the 33-26 defeat by the Barbarians, receiving a rapturous welcome at Twickenham before helping stage a late fightback.

Should he edge Dylan Hartley and George Chuter for the number two jersey, it will be his first cap since the 2006 Six Nations.

A neck injury appeared to have ended his career in 2007 but two years later and minus the £500,000 insurance money which had to be returned, the Brive hooker is eager to add to his 47 Test appearances.

"I'm just happy to be in the squad and I'll see what happens for the Argentina Tests," he added.

"I want to win another cap and this whole second career feels like a bonus.

"But there's competition for Saturday - George Chuter comes back into the squad and Dylan played quite well against the Barbarians."

PA Sport / Eurosport