Manu Tuilagi has been ruled out for the rest of this season after a scan on his injured right knee revealed significant ligament damage.

The 25-year-old Leicester centre had just been recalled to England's training squad on Saturday when, the following day, he suffered this latest cruel setback to his savagely-punctuated career.

It was just the seventh minute of the Tigers' Aviva Premiership encounter with Saracens at Welford Road when Tuilagi made a powerful carry down the right, but when he was tackled, he stayed down in clear pain, holding his right leg.

Manu Tuilagi leaves the field with an injury and is set to miss the rest of the season

Having been treated on the pitch for several minutes by the Leicester physios, he was helped from the field.

While the initial, up-beat bulletin from the club was that – mercifully – it wasn't a recurrence of the severe groin issue which has troubled him in recent years, further examination has brought bad news of a different kind.

The Tigers have confirmed that not only will Tuilagi be unavailable for the Six Nations, he is not expected to play again for the remainder of this season. That in turn means his hopes of being picked for a second successive Lions tour have been dashed.

This is another cruel development for a popular player, who has proved himself to be a major force at club and Test level when he has been fully fit.

Sadly, Tuilagi has made just one replacement appearance for England under Eddie Jones, having last started a Test back in June 2014.

His last start in an international at Twickenham was almost four years ago in March 2013.

Such has been the relentless pile-up of injuries, there will be renewed debate about whether or not the imposing Anglo-Samoan midfielder has a future in the game, amid fears that his body simply cannot withstand the punishment. However, at just 24, he has time on his side.

Tuilagi leaves the field with an injury during the match between Leicester Tigers and Saracens

MANU TUILAGI'S CAREER SO FAR Age: 25 Born: Samoa School: John Cleveland College, Leicestershire Position: Centre Clubs: 2010-present Leicester Tigers International: England - 26 caps Lions - 1 cap Advertisement

For Leicester, this is a grim scenario involving a marquee player who is on a salary reportedly worth £425,000 a year. For England, the impact will be minimal at this stage, as Tuilagi has not been in the picture for such a long time.

George Ford and Owen Farrell are likely to continue their 10-12 axis in the Six Nations, but, in time, Eddie Jones will hope that the rampaging Tiger is restored and at his disposal, ready to wreak havoc again.

Leicester interim head coach Aaron Mauger said: 'Unfortunately Manu sustained an ACL injury in the game on Sunday that's going to put him out for the rest of the season.

'It's looking like a six-month recovery which is devastating for the bloke, he's worked so hard to get back to where he is.

Tuilagi had been named in the England training squad ahead of the Six Nations

'He's absolutely gutted, but we've got a good support team around him, we'll put a good plan in place and we'll see him back on the field early next season.

'Manu's started to show those signs in the last couple of weeks that he's been in probably the best space that he's ever been in.

'We're really proud of the growth we've seen in him as a person.

'He was starting to get his explosive power and speed back and is really starting to understand the game better as well.