DANNY CIPRIANI has denied he is a playboy, yet he is happy to be labelled rugby’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Wasps and England star will start tomorrow night against Bath, barely four months after suffering an horrific fracture dislocation of his right ankle.

He has undergone a gruelling rehab programme to fight his way back nearly two months ahead of schedule.

Cipriani, 20, has also found time to ignite a romance with TV presenter and model Kelly Brook.

His high-profile antics have drawn comparison with Manchester United maestro Ronaldo, though Cips insists he is fully focused on his rugby.

He said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is a quality player, so it’s a very nice label to have.

“But I just want to get out there and be back on the field playing rugby.

“I can understand what people are saying. But it’s not just me. There are a lot of young players who could be rugby’s answer to Ronaldo.

“There have been pictures of me out and about, yet it hasn’t detracted at all from my rehab. I haven’t been out late.

“I’m a pretty focused guy and people who are involved in rugby know that.

“I don’t drink alcohol and I wouldn’t do anything to hamper my rehab.

“The rest of the team go out and they don’t get photographed. I’m just living my life and that’s it.”

Wasps boss Ian McGeechan has no concerns about the growing profile of Cipriani away from rugby.

McGeechan joked: “Time off is time off. Some people are just luckier with how they spend their time off.

“Danny wouldn’t be at this point if he wasn’t ultra-dedicated.

"He is six weeks ahead of the original diagnosis. That takes real dedication. He’s the ultimate professional.”

Cipriani could return at full-back against Bath at Adams Park tomorrow, the same team against whom he suffered his horror injury back in May.

The stunning speed of his recovery has caught everyone by surprise.

That includes England boss Martin Johnson, who named Cips only in the Saxons squad in July.

Under a new player agreement, Cipriani could be forced to watch from the stands as England take on the Pacific Islands, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at Twickenham in November.

He added: “It would be totally frustrating if you can’t get picked for England.

“But I would like to think that if you are playing well enough, then the best players will get picked at the time.”

He could be out of luck. McGeechan poured cold water on Cipriani’s hopes by warning there is little manoeuvre room.

Geech declared: “It’s clear that, unless there is an injury, he cannot be involved.

"He is in the Saxons squad and that is what the agreement reads.

“A request for special dispensation would be out of my hands.

“It’s not about money. It’s an agreement issue and I don’t think that there’s anything we can do.”

Cipriani replaces Jeremy Staunton tomorow night, hero of Friday’s win at Leicester that ended a run of three defeats.

England forwards James Haskell, Tim Payne and Simon Shaw plus No 9 Eoin Reddan and hooker Raphael Ibanez also return.