Flanker Tom Curry says his body is now “head and shoulders” better than it was during England’s summer tour.

The 26-year-old underwent hip surgery in February and was a surprise call-up to England’s tour of Japan and New Zealand after playing just one game for Sale Sharks following his return from injury.

Curry, who featured off the bench in all three Tests, had described the hip damage as like a “car crash” and said the fear of possibly having to retire from rugby made him “curl up into a ball and cry”.

“I am flying and feel like I have learnt a lot about my body from the summer tour to now,” Curry told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly before Saturday’s opening autumn international against New Zealand.

“It feels head and shoulders like what it was like before and I feel I am genuinely getting better now as a player.

“Getting back for the summer tour was testing, but I have now been able to get back physically.”

The 53-cap Curry praised the “amazing” work of England head coach Steve Borthwick and Sale staff in managing him back to full fitness, with the flanker only playing his first full game since the injury this month.

Having been an England regular at the past two Rugby World Cups, Curry featured in the unfamiliar role of replacement in the victory over Japan and back-to-back defeats by New Zealand, playing 29, 30 and 31 minutes across the three games.

“With that sort of injury, you had to get obsessive,” the Sale Shark added.

“I’ll speak now on behalf of my 80-year-old grandad, but your hip does almost affect your life, if you have a bad one it does take your focus on your thinking.

“This wasn’t an injury from anything physical in rugby, it was just wear and tear. I have been looking at biomechanics more than anything in terms of how I can move better.

“It is not about lifting the heaviest weights or lifting the quickest, it is just about being more in touch with your body – it sounds a very deep thought.”