England and Leicester Tigers handed double boost as Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi near injury returns

The Leicester pair should return for the Tigers before the end of the season, putting them into contention for England’s tour of South Africa this summer

Manu Tuilagi suffered a pectoral strain in Leicester's win over Wasps (Getty)

Leicester Tigers coach Matt O'Connor says he expects Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi to return from injury before the end of the season.

Scrum-half Youngs was initially expected to miss the rest of the season after damaging knee ligaments in England's opening Six Nations match against Italy, but now has a chance to face Northampton Saints in the English Premiership on 14 April.

Centre Tuilagi has been pencilled in to return against Newcastle on April 27 after a scan revealed he had only strained his pectoral muscle in Leicester's 16-15 victory over Wasps last month.

"It should be a couple of weeks rather than months," O'Connor said on Tuesday.

"That's hugely positive. He [Tuilagi] is running around and is probably going to be into some team training late end of this week or early next week."

"He [Youngs] has worked incredibly hard to get back, so that he can contribute at the back end of the season. All the indicators are that he should be in and around selection next week."


 Youngs was not expected back before the end of the season 
 (Getty)

Young's return means he should be available for the England tour of South Africa in June. Tuilagi has not played for the national team for more than two years due to a string of injuries.

Leicester next face Bath at Twickenham on Saturday.

Reuters