The fly-half looked back to his best at the weekend as he kicked 17 points and controlled the game as Leicester beat Guinness Premiership leaders Saracens 22-15.

The 24-year-old was making his eighth appearance of the season having spent six months on the treatment table with a ruptured Achilles, which kept him out of the autumn internationals.

But after impressing at Vicarage Road, Cockerill believes the talented fly-half is ready to re-establish himself in the England No.10 jersey.

"If England want to play him he offers something different to what they have got," said Cockerill.

"I think last weekend showed he is starting to get back to where he would like to be.

"In previous games, he was great with ball in hand but his kicking wasn't brilliant.

"Against Clermont, his kicking out of hand wasn't as good as we would have liked but  we have worked on that and his tactical appreciation, and it was the first time since he came back that he has controlled a game as we would have liked.

"Floody has been good since he came back, he's fitted in and taken the physical parts of the game, which is hard after a long time out. He is playing on the gain line and playing well with ball in hand.

"The thing that pleased me most about Saturday was his control of the game, which we have been working on. He did that really well."