Ellis was one of England's star performers in last year's Six Nations

The 25-year-old has not played since rupturing his left anterior cruciate ligament last May, an injury which forced him out of the World Cup.

Ellis came through 40 minutes of an academy match earlier this week and has been named as a replacement for Saturday's league game against Leeds.

"He's getting close," coach Marcelo Loffreda told BBC Radio Leicester.

"He's encouraged by being with the team, he's having more sessions and he will be back in not a long time."

Ellis, one of England's key players in last year's Six Nations, suffered the injury in the Premiership match against Bristol.

He missed the World Cup last autumn, with Bristol's Shaun Perry and then Harlequins scrum-half Andy Gomarsall taking the number nine jersey in France.

Ellis has not played in any of England's current Six Nations campaign but is likely to be in contention for the summer tour to New Zealand.