Manu Tuilagi
Manu Tuilagi is regarded as one of English rugby's most exciting young talents. [Reuters]

Centre Manu Tuilagi has been declared fit to play in England's Six Nations match with Ireland on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Leicester star missed England's opening match of this year's championship against Scotland on Saturday with an ankle injury, but England head coach Stuart Lancaster told the media this morning: "The last message we had about Manu was that he's fit and available to train.

"He's coming in this afternoon, [and is] available for Sunday,"

Tuilagi's replacement, Gloucester's Billy Twelvetrees, scored a try against the Scots and earned glowing reviews for his performance in midfield alongside Saracens' Brad Barritt during England's 38-18 victory.

However, following his outstanding performance in England's victory over New Zealand in December, Tuilagi is likely to return to the starting line-up for the match in Dublin.

England's selection in the back row appears less certain, with Gloucester number eight Ben Morgan continuing to struggle with the foot injury which forced him off during the second half of the Scotland match.

Lancaster told the media that Morgan is "still in a boot" and "will struggle to be available for the weekend", although the coaching staff are awaiting a final medical assessment.

If Haskell misses out, Lancaster could switch Wasps flanker James Haskell to number eight, a position he has played occasionally in the past, or draft in Leicester's New Zealand-born Thomas Waldrom, a specialist in the position.