FORMER British & Irish Lion Austin Healey has warned scrum-half Micky Young he has no chance of playing for England if he stays with Newcastle Falcons.

The 22-year-old has represented both the second-string Saxons and Sevens teams since being given his break at Newcastle in 2008, but has not yet received a full international call-up.

Young is unlikely to feature at all this season for Martin Johnson’s England, having been dropped from the senior and Saxons Elite Player Squads and with international scrum-half rivals Ben Youngs and Danny Care in such impressive form.

And ex-England back and Leicester scrum-half Healey believes it will remain that way for Young while he is plying his trade for perennial Premiership strugglers Newcastle.

“I haven’t really been impressed with Micky so far this season, but to be honest that is not all his own problem – it is the fact that he plays for Newcastle,” said Healey.

“And the fact of the matter is that if you are a scrum-half and you have a desire and ambition to play for England, then you have to play for one of the top teams.

“Ben Youngs is 21, plays for Leicester, has a load of talent and is already the guy that makes England tick and that is clear for everyone to see.

“It might sound harsh but that is fact for Micky and as long as he is running out in a Newcastle shirt I think he can forget about being in Martin Johnson’s England set up.”

Young has featured in every one of Newcastle’s 12 games this season – picking up two wins in the Premiership, one in the European Challenge Cup and one in the Anglo- Welsh Cup.

Healey – who made 51 appearances for England and two for the Lions – is in no doubt Young has what it takes to wear the Red Rose, but concedes he is fighting a losing battle at Kingston Park.

“Micky has talent and has made a name for himself at a young age and has been in the fold with the England Saxons,”

added Healey.

“But when you are a scrumhalf and you play behind a pack that is getting annihilated during every game it makes your job almost impossible.”

■ To get the inside scope on the England squad, as well as fun features, match analysis and up-to-the minute player interviews with presenters Austin Healey and Abi Griffiths, watch the latest episode of “O2 Inside Line” on RFU TV at o2insideline.com