WOLVES hooker Daryl Clark says he feels more at home as he nears the business end of his second season at the club.

The 23-year-old arrived from Castleford Tigers, Wolves' opponents on Sunday, before the start of the 2015 season having just won the Super League Man of Steel prize for 2014.

There were question marks about his performances and fitness last season and he was left out of then-England coach Steve McNamara’s England squad for the autumn Test series against New Zealand.

However, after a campaign of much-improved displays, Clark feels a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

“Last year was a bit of a struggle for me in terms of injury and form off the back of a pretty good year,” he said.

“I knew it was always going to be hard to back that up and try to produce the same form but I feel a lot better this year.

“I feel like my form is getting back to something like it was a couple of years ago so hopefully I can build on that and keep playing well.”

After a stellar 2014, during which he wowed fans with his trademark bursts from dummy-half at Castleford, he scooped Super League’s top player prize and impressed for England during the Four Nations in Australia.

However, now the Man of Steel hype has died down, Clark says he can focus on becoming an even better player.

“It was always going to come with that bit of pressure and expectation, you’ve seen it this year with the situation with Zak Hardaker,” he said.

“It does take its toll and people do expect you to do something every time you touch the ball.

“It is a lot of pressure but I’ve moved on from that now, it’s a couple of years down the line so it’s fizzled out a bit so I can get back to playing without that on my shoulders.”

One area where Clark has made a marked improvement is defensively, with Wolves boss Tony Smith repeatedly highlighting his contributions in that area of the field.

“When I first started I was getting spotted all the time and going through 40-50 tackles a game,” Clark said.

“It seems to have dropped a little bit now to the 20-30 mark which is a good thing. My shoulders feel a lot better for it!

“I want to keep being strong in defence so people keep running away from me rather than targeting me!”

Should Clark’s excellent form continue, an England recall could be in the reckoning and he was selected among a 31-man party that met up with new national coach Wayne Bennett last month.

The three-cap international will be competing with the likes of James Roby and Josh Hodgson for the white number nine shirt, but Clark is staying focused on performing for The Wire.

“I’ve not thought too much about that but after having a taste of it a couple of years ago, it’s something any player wants to do,” he said.

“If that’s an option for me at the end of the year, obviously I’d love to represent my country again but I’m not thinking too far ahead.

“It’s nice to know you’re in and around the thoughts or the national team coach but there were a lot of players there and that’s without the NRL players.

“It’s a big squad to cut down to 24 but hopefully I won’t be one to miss out and my form will keep me in.”