Billy Vunipola admits he was ‘scared and anxious’ over latest injury return as he takes the cautious approach

Having made just four appearances for England since the 2016 autumn internationals, Vunipola is not getting ahead of himself as he looks the rediscover his fitness before the Six Nations

Billy Vunipola made his third return from a broken arm last weekend (PA)

Billy Vunipola admits he was "scared" and "anxious" when making his latest injury comeback for Saracens and that he intends to ease his way back to his best this time around.

The 26-year-old England international returned from a broken arm in the Gallagher Premiership defeat at Sale on Friday night.

That was the latest in a long line of injuries which have seen Vunipola pick up just four England caps since the autumn of 2016.

Although the number eight has been part of Saracens teams who have claimed three Premiership crowns and two European titles, Vunipola has spent time recovering from earlier broken arms, as well as shoulder and knee injuries.

Those previous issues have seen Vunipola return this time with a more pragmatic approach.

"My arms feel good, they are strapped up and protected now," he said.

"I think the thing I was worried about was being tired, but it wasn't as much that on the weekend I was more trying to find my feet.

"I was a bit tentative and anxious - I readily admit that now. Before I was a bit naive that I could fall straight into it, whereas now I am a bit more prepared. And scared as well.

"Not of being injured, but the process of coming back is the hardest thing. Hopefully this weekend I can be better, then next weekend, then see when you go from there."

His cautious return led to a fairly unremarkable comeback performance in the loss at the AJ Bell Stadium.

But Vunipola believes he can get back to his best in the coming games, starting with the Champions Cup clash with Lyon in France on Sunday, with England's Six Nations campaign getting under way against Ireland on February 2.

Vunipola wants to get over the fear of suffering another injury (PA)

"I hope it (that fear) will go away," he said.

"That comes from the confidence of playing games week in week out, which I haven't done consistently.

"I think it's a good thing. It will hopefully drive me and help me to protect myself better.

"Hopefully these next few games I can stay injury free and my form can shoot up. I'm trying to stay out of the spotlight.

"It's a good thing to have that fear. I don't think I had it before. I guess that came down to me being complacent."

Saracens coach Mark McCall echoed Vunipola's comments and knows he has to improve on his comeback display if he is to think about starting the Six Nations.

"Ordinarily he comes back with a storming performance but this time it was a bit more tentative," he said.

"Maybe that's understandable because his return was delayed a week because the consultant was a bit nervous about the arm and Billy was too.

"But having got that game out of the way hopefully we'll see a much less tentative Billy this weekend."

Asked if Vunipola could still manage to feature in the Six Nations, McCall added: "Yeah, probably. But he'll have to play better than he did last weekend."

PA