Richard Cockerill backs Manu Tuilagi to bounce back strong from injuries

Leicester Tigers rugby director Richard Cockerill expressed confidence on England international Manu Tuilagi to make a strong comeback from his injuries.

The 25-year-old's career has been marred with a series of injuries with the latest being the resurfacing of his long-standing groin problem during his club's Aviva Premiership opening game against Gloucester Rugby.

After remaining on the sidelines for quite a while, Tuilagi might make a comeback in this weekend's European Champions game but Cockerill is wary of the fact that another injury will make his rehabilitation start from the scratch again.

The Leicester Tigers boss wants Tuilagi to take 2003 World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson as an inspiration to return back to the game.

"If you look at Jonny Wilkinson as an example, he had a lot of injuries over a long time, went to Toulon and was the European player of the year for that period of time," Cockerill said.

"I have every confidence that Manu will make a full recovery and I don't think you've seen the best of him. He's still a young man and still has a lot of rugby in him."

It was in January, Tuilagi made a comeback from a groin injury and was also named in England's squad for the tour of Australia but another hamstring injury spoiled his chance of a comeback. Even though, he is a nearing a return, Cockerill admitted that the club will take no chance on Tuilagi's return considering his history of injuries.

"Manu is out jogging around and doing lots of the unit stuff already. We are hoping that within the next two to three weeks he will take some part in a squad to play and see where we are at," Cockerill said.

"If all goes to plan, it will be then. And if he's not ready, it will be a bit longer.

"He's doing all his rehab, his weight is good, he's very engaged with rehab, his lifestyle is good and he looks in great nick. It's all positive.

"Previously, with the groin in particular, he could do nothing. If exercise is your life, then that's quite hard.

"If you can train, still get that buzz from training, then there's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. When you're just resting, that's a hard place to be."