Cueto hoping injury misery is now a thing of the past

Cueto has played just four England Tests in 18 months and last season was a virtual write-off after injuries to his ankle and both calves.

The Sale winger had to watch from the sidelines as the Sharks, weighed down by a huge casualty list, lost their Guinness Premiership title.

The 27-year-old battled back to full fitness and made the World Cup squad – only to strain his groin in the warm-up before England’;s record win over Wales on August 4.

After so long out, Cueto was desperate to play. Had he done so, his World Cup ambitions would almost certainly have been wrecked.

Just minutes before kick-off the England medics insisted Cueto be withdrawn from the starting XV and Mathew Tait was promoted to full-back.

Cueto said: “I would have probably torn my groin in half which would have put me out of the World Cup.”

But Cueto is now set to have a vital role to play as England mount their title defence – at full-back.