Austin Gleeson rejoins Waterford ahead of Munster SHC opener against Clare

Manager Peter Queally said 2016 hurler and young hurler of the year Gleeson has “put himself in the frame” for championship game-time over the coming weeks.

GLORY DAYS: Austin Gleeson is back in the Waterford panel. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile.

Austin Gleeson has rejoined the Waterford panel and is “in the frame” for involvement in Sunday week’s Munster SHC opener against Clare, manager Peter Queally has revealed.

In an injury update provided to The Waterford News and Star, Queally said 2016 hurler and young hurler of the year Gleeson “is training away hard”, “his fitness has really come up”, and he has “put himself in the frame” for championship game-time over the coming weeks.

Gleeson, who withdrew from the Waterford set-up before Christmas, has not seen action in white since introduced as a 60th minute sub in the Round 5 Munster SHC defeat to Cork on May 25 of last year.

Elsewhere in the Déise camp, Queally is hopeful both Jamie Barron and Stephen Bennett will overcome their respective hamstring injuries in time to line out at Cusack Park.

“Jamie should be okay,” the manager told the local newspaper. “Stephen Bennett should be ok too.”

Conor Prunty’s ongoing quad injury means the full-back will miss, at the very least, their opening two games against Clare and Tipperary a week later.