LONDON: England centre Manu Tuilagi's nagging groin injury looks like seeing him sit out the rest of the season, said Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill.
The 23-year-old Samoan-born powerhouse back -- who won the last of his 25 caps in the 3-0 test series loss to New Zealand last June -- should have recovered sufficiently from the injury he suffered in October according to Cockerill to challenge for a place in the World Cup squad which England are hosting and gets underway in September.
"He's improving all the time but it's a long process," said Cockerill.
"The likelihood now is he may not play this season.
"The likelihood is he will be fit for June and he'll join England for their World Cup camp.
"Hopefully he'll be involved in the World Cup warm-ups and have a huge say in how England do."
England coped well in the Six Nations without Tuilagi -- who has scored 11 tries for his adopted country although he got into hot water at the last World Cup when he threw himself off a ferry into the sea -- falling agonisingly short of capturing the title.
England get their World Cup campaign under way against Fiji at Twickenham on September 18.
Before that, they face warm-up fixtures against France in August, both home and away, before a final run-out against Ireland at Twickenham on September 5.
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