Munster trio out until ‘at least end of January’

MUNSTER backs coach Jason Holland yesterday said the squad’s long-term injury casualties would not be back in action until at least the end of January.

Ian Dowling (hip), Felix Jones (knee) and Denis Fogarty (shoulder) all picked up their injuries during the September 18 Magners League encounter at home to Ospreys.

“Dowls is coming along quite slowly, it’s pretty serious,” Holland said following training at the University of Limerick yesterday.

“I’m not 100% sure but he’s not going to be around for two or three months anyway. Felix I think is a little bit ahead of him but not much, so those two are the long-term ones. Fogs (Fogarty) is hopefully the end of January, he’s coming along well. The worst thing for them is the rehab’s at 7am because they have to do it around when the trainers aren’t with us. It’s a disaster, you’re depressed enough not playing and then you’re coming in at seven in the morning and back at six at night and it’s a tough old time. But they’re all working hard to get back as quickly as possible but the reality is they won’t be back before the end of January.”