WORCESTER hockey star Rachel Walker believes 18 months away from international competition will be a help and not a hindrance when she returns to the England ranks in February.

The 30-year-old hasn’t played an international fixture since guiding Britain to sixth place at the 2008 Olympics and has instead concentrated her efforts on club hockey with Olton & West Warwick.

A lot has changed since her last international appearance, with coach Danny Kerry opting for youth as England finished sixth at the Champions Trophy in July and took bronze at the EuroHockey Nations Championships in August.

Far from exiled, Walker has been in regular contact with Kerry and will be firmly in his plans with the Champions Trophy in Nottingham, the World Cup and the Common-wealth Games all on the agenda in 2010.

England booked their place at the World Cup in Argentina courtesy of their European bronze and Walker — who has 142 international caps —is adamant she won’t feel like the odd one out upon her return.

“Even though I have had a year out I have still been playing for my club and I just felt I needed that break from the international side of things,” said Walker.

“I’ve been keeping in contact with Danny and having conversations with him recently and it has been a good year off and I have been able to relax because of it.

“I am very passionate about my club and generally it has been quite nice not to have that added pressure that playing internationally brings.

“But next year is going to be a busy year, as well as getting married in April, there is a lot going on and a lot to play for and the World Cup is the big one of them all.

“The second year after the Olym-pics is always pretty busy and I am not sure how Danny is going to approach it but I am not worried about coming back — I’m looking forward to it.”

With under 1,000 days to go until the London 2012 Games on October 31, Walker has experienced first-hand the Olympic Park in Stratford more than most after her fiancé Tom Clift’s proposal there in August.

While Walker could think of nothing better than representing Great Britain at her second Olympics in London, she admitted she will think long and hard before making the decision.

“Obviously the whole aura around 2012 is a very motivational factor for any athlete and playing at an Olym-pic Games in your own country is a once in a lifetime experience,” added Walker.

“But I don’t want 2012 to just be a motivational factor — I want to be going there for other reasons.

“Having been out for a year I have got to get back into the programme again and find out how I feel and just get a feeling for being in there again before anything else.”

Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralym-pic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to London 2012.