Cipriani kicked five penalties and three conversions for Wasps in their 36-29 victory over Leicester © Getty Images

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Ian McGeechan expects to see Danny Cipriani restored to the England set-up soon.

The Wasps director of rugby was speaking after seeing Cipriani kick 21 points in the 36-29 Guinness Premiership victory over Leicester. McGeechan said: "I'll be very surprised if he is not back in an England jersey by the end of the Six Nations."

And McGeechan, head coach for the Lions tour to South Africa this summer, also stated that the 21-year-old stand-off does not necessarily need to regain his international place to make that squad. "No doors are closed," he said. "In a Lions context we've got to pick players who are playing well."

Cipriani was dropped by England boss Martin Johnson after the November defeats to Australia and South Africa, but those caps came just after he had returned to action following a serious dislocation and fracture of his right ankle.

"I think you've got to be careful not to underestimate the size of that injury," added McGeechan. "Maybe some expectations were higher than they should have been. Now he is starting to shape up again. He's been good in training this week and he was good today.

"I'm very pleased. He put a lot into that and he was pretty physical - he put himself on the front line and the players appreciate that. He will always do things that lift a team."

Anxious to keep Cipriani playing for Wasps for a while longer, though, McGeechan joked: "I'll suggest to Jonno he probably needs three or four more games with us!"

Wasps were heading for a landslide victory at 30-14 early in the second half, but failed to secure a bonus point. McGeechan added: "With three tries after 44 minutes we would have liked a fourth. I'm never going to turn sour about a win against Leicester (it was the fourth in a row for Wasps), but I'm disappointed we switched off and allowed Leicester the last crack."

The visitors scored a converted try deep into injury-time to collect two bonus points in defeat. Leicester's acting coach Richard Cockerill, whose side stay sixth in the table, said: "With 90 seconds we had nothing, so it was good to get two points and four tries.

"We played some good stuff at times, but conceded some pretty soft points and it's hard when you do that. I give the players credit for playing to the death. The guys are pleased that we've taken a step forward in how we want to play, but disappointed because it was a winnable game for us.

"We would have liked to win to keep up with the pack, but the season is still very much alive for us."

Cockerill refused to say whether the club would be appealing against Martin Corry's six-week ban.