Manu Tuilagi back in the groove at England training as centre looks to impress head coach Eddie Jones ahead of Six Nations grudge match with Wales at Twickenham

If Eddie Jones needs a weapon of mass destruction to unleash against Wales from the bench, Manu Tuilagi will be ready to answer the call. His England exile has gone on long enough.

The Leicester centre was back in training with the national squad on Tuesday for the first time since damaging his groin in October 2014 — a setback which punctuated his career for 15 months.

Having returned to action with the Tigers and overcome a hamstring strain, he has been recalled by Jones, who wants him to be involved in the RBS 6 Nations showdown at Twickenham on Saturday week. 

Manu Tuilagi joined his England team-mates for training on Tuesday as his side gear up for a decisive Six Nations clash with Wales

Tuilagi will hope to grab the attention of head coach Eddie Jones with impressive application and explosive backline ball-carrying

The 24-year-old Tuilagi was named in the 33-man training squad who have assembled in Bath after recovering from a serious groin injury

Jones has implied that Tuilagi may be in line for a role from the bench against Warren Gatland's side at Twickenham a week on Saturday

First, Tuilagi faces another assignment for his club, at home to Exeter in the Aviva Premiership on Sunday. But if he comes through that additional examination of his fitness, how would he feel about being included as a replacement against Wales?

‘I think I’d feel good,’ he said at England’s temporary base in Bath. ‘I have five games under my belt and the last two have been for 80 minutes. I’ve felt good. Every time I’m on the field, I’m smiling.’

That was certainly the impression he gave on Tuesday as he charged around under Jones’ watchful gaze. Even the little things pleased him — like wearing an England training shirt again.

‘It is a nice top,’ he said. ‘It fits really well. That is the main thing — you don’t want to train in an uncomfortable top!’

Tuilagi has not played for his country since the Test against New Zealand in Hamilton in June 2014. He has been reluctantly thrust into the role of helpless spectator and it’s not one he has relished. ‘Sometimes we take it for granted being a rugby player and doing what we love doing,’ he said. ‘If you love what you are doing it is not really a job and when I was out, it was tough watching.’

His painful groin kept defying medical opinion and all the best attempts to find a cure. Leicester were forced to repeatedly postpone Tuilagi’s return as rehab dragged on and stalled.

But he never gave up hope. ‘I kept thinking there’s going to be light at the tunnel,’ he said. ‘It did come in the end — thank God.’

Having support from his close-knit family helped. His mum, dad and one of his brothers came over to Leicester for Christmas and ended up staying for four months. But it also helped that a Tigers team-mate went through a similar ordeal and came out the other side.

‘Mathew Tait had the same injury, so it was nice to have him there at times because I could speak to him about how he was feeling about his groin,’ said Tuilagi. ‘Having him there when I was injured and seeing him playing and back to full fitness kept me going.’ 

England team-mates Elliot Daly (left)  and George Ford discuss tactics during a wet and muddy training session at the University of Bath

Ford came through a challenging afternoon from Ireland's massive midfield last weekend and he was back pulling the strings on Tuesday

The 22-year-old Ford will hope to add to his 20 caps and 142 points for the Red Rose with victory over the Welsh at Twickenham

Danny Care gets his hands on a muddy ball during training and the Harlequins scrum-half will be eager to force his way into the side 

Providing he survives the match against Exeter unscathed, the 24-year-old should feature at some stage against the Welsh as England seek a fourth win out of four. He knows that Jones, in time, wants him to operate at inside centre and he is relaxed about that shift infield from his more familiar berth.

‘In the centres, 12 and 13 are often just numbers,’ he said. ‘I’ve played 12 before. As long as you understand the gameplan, you don’t need to worry about what position you’re in. It’s basically forwards and backs — and backs do the hard work!’

That outlook sums up Tuilagi. When he’s fit, he finds rugby a simple game, played for fun.

Tuilagi who has also been drafted in by Jones for the Wales clash with the Leicester centre nudging Ollie Devoto out of the group

George Kruis is tackled by Courtney Lawes during the England training session held the University of Bath on Tuesday morning

Hooker Dylan Hartley offloads the ball and the England captain will want his team to leave no stone unturned ahead of facing Wales

Jones has a quiet word with full-back Mike Brown, who has been cleared to face Wales after not being cited for an incident against Ireland