Saracens winger Chris Ashton admits the intense scrutiny of his England performances has taken "some of the shine off" pulling on the white jersey and believes he may be a victim of his early success at international level.

Ashton started all three of England’s autumn internationals, scoring one try in a 31-12 win over Argentina but, as has been the case for much of the last two years, reaction to the 26-year-old’s displays for his country was mixed.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster reportedly warned the Sarries winger after the first test against Australia that he needed to improve if he was to keep his place ahead of Wasps’ Christian Wade and London Irish’s Marland Yarde, who were both ruled out of the Argentina clash through injury.

Ashton, who has made 37 starts for his country, admits the criticism does take away some of the magic of playing for England but insists he has grown used to the extra attention.

“It does take some of the shine off playing for England - it does a little bit but I'm kind of used to it now,” Ashton told the Times Series at the launch of a new Rugby Union & Education Scholarship Programme aimed at giving teenagers the chance to combine sport and learning.

“I’m not playing much differently to how I play at Saracens - I probably get the ball more at Saracens and get involved more but these are tight games at international level.

“Sometimes you just have to accept you’re not going to be involved as much and as long as I keep on getting picked and keep playing, it doesn’t really matter if I get stick or not.”

Ashton made a blistering start to his England career, scoring nine tries in his first nine matches, but the former Northampton Saints says it was unrealistic to think he could keep up that early try-scoring form.

“I don’t know why I seem to get more attention,” he said. “I think it’s because when I first came in so many tries were scored straight away so people expect that all the time but it’s never going to happen that way.”

He added: “The attack is a bit different for England - Stuart [Lancaster] wants me to be more of a winger rather than roaming and looking for the ball all the time.

“So I have to go with what he wants me to do and fit into the way the team wants to play.”

Saracens have worked hard in recent months to restore Ashton’s confidence levels and the club’s forwards coach Alex Sanderson launched a passionate defence of his charge earlier this month.

Sanderson suggested Saracens, unlike England, focus on the strengths of their players rather than the weaknesses and the club’s undivided loyalty to Ashton is paying dividends.

He has crossed the line for the Men in Black three times this season but as well as try-scoring, the winger has been much brighter in matches, popping up all over the pitch and creating openings for those around him.

“Saracens are a bit different to other clubs in that they try and be positive about everything, on and off the field and it works well,” Ashton said.

“That might not work in every environment and England have their way of doing things - they have to get the guys up to a level of intensity and that’s the way they like to do it.”

He added: “There is a bit of a mothering element to it at Saracens I suppose. The club understand it’s tough when you’re away – you’re in a hotel for five weeks and it’s just rugby, rugby, rugby and for someone like me that’s pretty tough.

“When I'm at home I like to do something else so to be concentrated for five weeks on rugby sometimes takes its toll and it’s good to come back to the club and relax.”

Ashton joined Saracens in July 2012 and scored ten tries in his debut season.

With that first campaign under his belt, he is now feeling settled at Saracens and enjoying an attacking eureka which has seen the Men in Black run in 36 tries in their opening 12 matches in all competitions.

“I feel completely comfortable now at Sarries and once you feel comfortable you can gauge where you can get involved and where you need to be at the certain times on the pitch,” he said.

“Last season was a bit difficult – in the first season at a club there’s always a bit of settling in time, even if you don’t think there will be, it does take time.

“This year I feel a lot more relaxed, everyone understands the attacking strategy and everyone is now looking to be an option off the ball whereas before we were a bit limited and structured.

“Now it’s more varied and we get as many people as possible involved as possible and we’re doing well - I’m really enjoying my rugby.”

Saracens had to dig deep to beat Exeter Chiefs 16-9 last weekend, a win which keeps them at the top of the Premiership table.

The Men in Black are expected to recall Owen Farrell to the starting line-up for this Saturday’s home game against Sale Sharks but Ashton, along with some other internationals, has been given a week off and will be rested.