Watson focused on playing 'pain-free' for Leicester

Anthony Watson has made 20 appearances for Leicester Tigers since joining the Premiership club in the summer of 2022

Anthony Watson says he is concentrating on playing "pain-free" for Leicester Tigers and not focusing on an immediate England recall after enduring a "horrendous road" to recovery.

After a calf injury forced the 30-year-old to miss last year's World Cup, the latest in a succession of Achilles issues and a back problem that required surgery limited him to just two appearances for Leicester last season.

The fit-again winger has already played as many games this season, and been named in the Tigers side to face Northampton Saints in their East Midlands derby on Saturday.

Watson, who has scored 23 tries in 56 England appearances and featured for the British and Irish Lions, says he "just happy to be back playing".

"There were times in January and February when I couldn’t sit down and couldn’t stand up because I was in a lot of pain," he told BBC Radio Leicester.

"It was the most frustrating rehab I've done because of how debilitating it was."

Watson was preparing to come back from an injury-interrupted start to last season when he "badly irritated" his back in the build-up to Tigers' Investec Champions Cup group game against La Rochelle in January.

"There was nothing we could do to settle it down," he said.

"I ended up having to have surgery on my back and then there were complications with that and it took a long time, a lot of support from staff here - who were amazing - and patience, which I'm not very good at, and we were able to turn it around.

"It was a horrendous road, six or seven months, I'll be honest. It was frustrating and it was bigger than just a muscle injury or a tendon strain - it was more serious."

Watson scored a try in just his second match back this season, helping Tigers to a convincing victory against Newcastle last week.

As one of England's most explosive try-scoring talents, who has featured in two World Cups despite being plagued by injuries, his return to fitness will inevitably put him in contention for an international recall.

But for Watson, it is not his immediate concern.

"I wouldn't say it's motivating me or is on my horizon, and that is not out of disrespect or putting them to one side, or saying that part of my career is done at all," he said.

"Where I'm at right now, I just want to play pain-free. I want to give back to the people who have supported me to get me back fit, and play well for myself, my family, but also the fans who have been around asking where I've been for the last 18 months.

"That is where my focus is. I just want to play rugby, play well and whatever happens after that happens."