Manu Tuilagi has revealed that he visited a witchdoctor back in Samoa last week in a bid to end the nightmare run of injuries that have recently plagued his career.

The Leicester Tigers centre suffered a left knee injury in the first game of the season at home to Bath, sidelining him until December.

Speaking ahead of BT Sport’s Rugby Tonight, Tuilagi revealed that he visited the witchdoctor over four days on the island of ‘Upolu.

“That's why I went home, just for that,” said Tuilagi. “I saw the witchdoctor for four days - two hours a day. It's a spiritual thing. My mum spoke to her and asked for her help. Before I got out there she had found out what the illness was.

“Then when I went out there she massaged my whole body. All I needed was a towel and a Fijian oil. The witchdoctor was half Fijian and half Samoan and she found out that there were three lady spirits who had married themselves onto me for the last three years.”

Tuilagi was earlier ruled out for seven months in January after injuring his right knee, and has not appeared in a Test for England since 2014 having also suffered injuries to his chest and groin.