Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson has indicated that Manu Tuilagi could be fit in time for the second round of the Six Nations.
He also revealed that the powerhouse centre, who has been on the sidelines since injuring his hamstring during the Autumn, will likely make his playing return this weekend against Harlequins.
“He is training and looking good but we think it is too much of a risk to push him this weekend. Harlequins is the projected return and then we will see how he feels for Six Nations,” Sanderson said.
“It is a week-to-week thing for Manu but England have total autonomy over when he plays and doesn’t play and if he looks really good and feels good, he will go straight through to England and it could be Italy.
“He is an exceptional trainer and a quick healer so all of his progressions are done on the back of hitting physiological markers and GPS speeds, rescans and seeing the specialist and we would never push him earlier.
“He is very diligent and is living a very wholesome life at the moment; doesn’t eat much meat, doesn’t go out and has just had a baby boy. All of these things are lending themselves to him pushing through the rehab quicker.”
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The fans’ England XV to play Scotland:
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
- 14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 42 caps)
- 11. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 3 caps)
CENTRES:
- 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 38 caps)
- 12. Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped)
