HAVING just enjoyed the best season of his career at Lancashire, Sajid Mahmood feels he is on the verge of winning back his England place.

The pace bowler, who turns 27 next month, hasn't played for the national side since Peter Moores took over as head coach at the end of last year's World Cup and the last of his eight Tests came in the Ashes whitewash in Sydney in January 2007.

But after an impressive domestic campaign last season, which saw him claim 35 Championship wickets despite missing the final three matches with a side strain, he is preparing to fly to India with the England Performance Programme squad.

And while there, he will be able to draw on some top-class experience, with former England skipper Michael Vaughan on the month-long trip and former Pakistan skipper and bowling star Waqar Younis employed by the ECB as a bowling consultant.

As well as playing two matches, the squad will also link-up with the England Test side for two days and will provide cover for Kevin Pietersen's men if there are any injuries.

And with Ryan Sidebottom forced out of yesterday's second one-day international by his troublesome Achilles, the door could be set to open for Bolton-born Mahmood.

"I am not too far away from the England side," said a confident Mahmood, who flies out with the squad on November 21.

"I feel last season was the best season I have had in professional cricket.

"I bowled pretty consistently and worked harder than I have done before.

"But I have to keep on improving. I am not worried about my pace, because I know I have that in the locker, but if I keep on improving on my consistency then I know I am not too far away."

Although Mahmood has felt no pain from the side strain he suffered at the end of the campaign, he has been bowling at just 70 per cent in the indoor nets at Loughborough last week to protect his shins on the hard surface.

But once he gets to India he will be back up to full speed, and a good performance could earn him a place on the Lions tour to New Zealand in February and March.

"I can't wait to get out there," said Mahmood. "India is a tough place to play, the pitches are flat and low and there is not much in them for a quick bowler, apart maybe a bit of reverse swing.

"It will be a big learning curve and you have to be consistent with where you put the ball because there is such a small margin for error. And that's good because that is what I have been working on.

"And it is always better to play in a match situation rather than in the nets.

"And to be able to work with Waqar for a week will be amazing. To have someone like that around with his sort of experience and be able to pick his brains will be brilliant, especially with his ability to reverse the ball.

"If I am not in the senior squad, then it would be good to go on the Lions tour."