Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has suggested that Manu Tuilagi may yet play some part for England in the Six Nations.

Tuilagi claimed on Tuesday that he would miss the entirety of the tournament after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury.

However, Cockerill believes that the centre could be exaggerating the problem.

"He'll certainly miss the start of the Six Nations, it's getting closer all the time," he told Sky Sports News. "His groin's improving, it's improving slowly. A bit like everything with long-term injuries, players get a bit downbeat on it, sometimes they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"But he is improving and how quickly that turns around we'll have to see. At this point there's every chance he'll play some part. How much? We'll just have to see."

Leicester are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Ulster for a crucial encounter in the European Rugby Champions Cup.