Manu Tuilagi has received a fresh blow in his attempts to return to Eddie Jones’ England set-up in time for this year’s RBS 6 Nations, as he looks likely to miss the Autumn Internationals.
Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill expects to be without the centre for six to eight weeks, due to the groin injury he sustained in the opening game of the season.
Tuilagi’s only start this term came against Gloucester, which Tigers won 38-31, but he has not been able to return to the field since.
The 25-year-old has been capped 26 times by his country with his last international appearance coming as a substitute in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations win over Wales.
That was his first appearance for the Red Rose in nearly two years.
Cockerill said: “We will give support to Manu, he is a world class player.
“He wants to be out on the field and we want him out on the field. His groin is tight and we want to rehab that and get it right so it is done with.
“It is a little bit frustrating for him obviously but he’s working really hard in his rehab – he’s in good nick, his weight’s good and his attitude is brilliant at the moment.
“We’ve just got to be patient and when he’s right he’ll play.”
