Skipper Chris Robshaw has admitted he would hope Harlequins’ winning start to the campaign would see more international honours for his men – including himself.

Director of rugby Conor O’Shea’s men returned to Premiership action with a 38-9 win over Newcastle Falcons at the Stoop on Sunday to make it 13 wins from 13 games in all competitions.

It is the best start to a campaign from any top-flight club since the start of the professional era and leaves Quins a whopping nine points clear at the top of the table.

England team boss Martin Johnson’s resignation should usher in a fresh set of eyes when it comes to selection for the senior elite players squad for next year’s Six Nations.

But Robshaw, who is among the frontrunners to replace Lewis Moody as England captain, despite having only won one cap, hopes his side’s current form would bring a wave of recognition for his unbeaten side.

“If you look back over the years and see what teams dominated England sides of the past, you find it is your Leicesters, your Northamptons and your Baths,” he said.

“The one things those sides have in common is that they are winning teams.

“When you are playing winning rugby like we are it is easier to promote yourself.

“I’d like to think that as long as we keep winning and the players keep pushing themselves forward for England selection, then there will be more Quins on that England team sheet.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next year.”

Tries from Seb Stegmann (2), Danny Care, Luke Wallace, Mike Brown and James Johnston secured a comfortable win over bottom-club Newcastle on Sunday.

Nick Easter limped off before half-time to add to the growing Quins injury list, but it mattered little as O’Shea’s men maintained their unbeaten record ahead of this Sunday’s trip to London Wasps.

Quins face back-to-back Heineken Cup clashes with Toulouse before hosting Saracens at Twickenham stadium in the Big Game 4 on December 27 in a busy month ahead.

And Robshaw admits it is a crunch run that will give a clear indication as to credentials to add more silverware to the Stoop trophy cabinet in May.

“The next two months are crucial because they will give us an idea of where we will be at the end of the season,” he added.

“We need to keep on the ball and keep the momentum going for as long as we can. These are the games we want to be playing in with the big names and the big stadiums.

“We’ll be disappointed if we don’t at least make the top four at the end of the season after the start we have had.”