ALEX Davies is hoping a strong winter with England Lions can propel him towards a full international call-up - and he doesn’t believe playing in the second tier of County Championship cricket will harm his chances.

Lancashire were relegated this summer and will play in Division Two for the first time since 2013 next year.

For Davies, who is part of the Lions white ball squad for matches against Pakistan this winter, it would, on the face of it, hinder his chances of earning full international recognition.

But the 24-year-old, who has long been tipped as future England player, doesn’t see it that way - not that he is getting hung up on international honours.

“That is the ultimate goal,” he said. “But I don’t want to think too far ahead because I have made that mistake in the past. I want to score runs for Lancashire and the Lions and then what will be will be. You have to trust that the selectors will take notice.

“I want to make the most of the England Lions opportunities and take it week by week and game by game.

“Sometimes I think I could be a year further on than what I am if it wasn’t for the injury I had last year but I can’t do anything about that now.”

Davies, who came through the ranks at Darwen, has spent his entire senior career at Old Trafford and insists he is happy with the Red Rose and wants to play a part in securing promotion back to the top tier.

“I want to be playing Division One cricket as I am sure everyone does,” he added. “I want to score runs in Division Two next season to show that I can do it in that division and then get back into Division One.

“I guess it (being a Division Two player) could affect an England chance but Joe Denly has shown this season that you can get picked from Division Two and he could make his Test debut if all goes to plan this winter.”

On his immediate future Davies added: “I still have two years left on my contract and there is nowhere else I want to play at the moment. Lancashire is the only county I have known and while I am wanted and under contract I will do all I can for Lancashire.”

The Lions lost their opening four-day match in the UAE and play the first of five ODIs tomorrow. They also have two T20s.

And Davies, who performed superbly for Lancashire in their run to the T20 Blast Finals Day, is hoping to impress on international duty.

“I was really happy with my white ball performance this season,” he said.

“At the start of the summer I wanted to make an impact in the T20 having missed a year and I also wanted to nail down my place in the side. I wasn’t guaranteed to play at the start of the season but the coaches kept faith in me opening the batting which was good and I managed to score some runs.

“It was pleasing to do that but it was a shame we couldn’t end it with a trophy on finals day.”

And Davies, who looks set to keep wicket having overcome a thumb and finger injury which prevented him being behind the stumps for much of the domestic season, added: “I am just in the limited overs squad for now but there is a tour post Christmas which has not been announced yet and I am hoping to force my way into the four day squad for that.

“I will work really hard with the Lions and hopefully score some runs and keep myself in the squads and show people that I can be an international player.”