Hougaard moved to Welford Road in July

Leicester Tigers fly-half Derick Hougaard is amazed by his swift return to action following surgery and says he is fit to face London Irish on Sunday.

South African Hougaard had his appendix removed in the first week of February.

He only returned to training last week but is expected to be on the bench when Tigers travel to face the Exiles.

"If you told me a week-and-a-half ago that I could be playing against London Irish I would have said you were mad," Hougaard told BBC Radio Leicester.

He said the prospect of playing again so soon seemed a million miles when he was taken ill in earlier this month.

"At training I had a bit of stomach cramp, I couldn't sleep through the night and I got a little bit of fever and that same night I was operated on.

"But I'm feeling much better now. I can actually eat properly again."

Sam Vesty will retain his place in the Tigers backline but Hougaard believes a return to first-team duties is not long off.

"I lost a little bit of strength and fitness-wise," he said. "It's not up there yet but I'm getting there quite quickly."

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