Joe Marler set to resume his career after missing Australian tour

Harlequins prop Joe Marler is all set to resume his career after taking a break from the game during the recent England's tour of Australia.

Marler, who was in the headlines for the unwanted reasons was banned for two games after making inappropriate comments against Wales prop Samson Lee during their 2016 Six Nations match at Twickenham and was also involved in a kicking incident involving Grenoble hooker Arnaud Héguy during the European Challenge Cup semi-final for which he was handed another two-week ban.

The 26-year-old turned to sports psychologist Jeremy Snape to revive his career and also made himself unavailable for the England tour of Australia after consultation with head coach Eddie Jones.

Recalling the torrid moments, Marler said it was tough for him to spend time away from the game.

"It dawned on me when we met up for that camp (before the tour). I was driving home when I was like, 'I don't want to be here'. I just didn't have it in me. It was tough, but not enjoyable tough," Marler told several national newspapers.

"I told Eddie the following day and he was really good about it, wished me luck and that was it.

"I wouldn't want to be running around the field with someone who is there just to pick up a pay cheque. I thought about what I would have thought as a kid if I saw my hero, or a player I looked up to, just going through the motions."

Marler will be returning to action in the upcoming season of the Aviva Premiership for Harlequins and the England prop is wary of the challenges ahead.

"It was well publicised how much trouble I was getting myself into," he said. "I was just losing control of it all. it wasn't just those moments (with Lee and Heguy).

"I've spent the entire off-season reflecting on the year and trying to establish the lesson I can learn from it. Everything is hunky dory at the moment but there's that Mike Tyson quote: 'Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face'.

"Come a week on Saturday against Bristol, I suspect someone might punch me in the face but I can cope with stuff under pressure now that things on and off the field are rosy."