Fitzgerald says age no barrier to new Howlett deal after injury heartbreak

AGE won’t be an issue for Doug Howlett in negotiating a new deal with Munster, even though his season has been brought to a premature halt because of injury.

With Munster front-liners Felix Jones and Keith Earls also sidelined, the up-and-coming star Simon Zebo, a ready-up replacement winger, also suffered an injury yesterday to add to the troubles in the camp.

Munster Chief Executive Garrett Fitzgerald put on a brave face last night in advance of surgery for the New Zealand legend. There were words of support and comfort from the CEO, however, for 33-year-old Howlett.

“The first thing is we only found out the detail of his injury yesterday and he is due to have surgery on it tomorrow; we will wait until after that to assess the feedback but all reports are that there is unlikely to be any complication,” he said.

“We haven’t even discussed the implications because with the injury our main focus was just to look after the injury. It is a regular injury that others have had, guys like Dan Carter and Ali Williams, who have recovered from it. It is a setback for Doug and a setback for us but it is part of what the game is and what you get in sport today. We just have to manage it the same as we manage any other injury.

“As regards as to whether it changes our view on anything, we have to consider this only happened two days ago, we haven’t met and we haven’t planned on meeting on issues such as that until after round 4 of the ERC. I’m not avoiding the issue, that’s the truth of the matter.

“If it was 15 years ago you would have probably a different approach to it given the injury; medical science and other things have improved no end since then, so we will wait and see what the reports are on it, everyone seems to be quite positive about it.

“Since the day Doug Howlett arrived here his contribution on and off the pitch has been magnificent; he is very much one of the senior playing group and is respected by all the other Irish internationals in our squad.

“His contribution this year and last year, if anything, has been greater than the previous years, and at the present moment [up to last week] he was enjoying his football, playing fantastic rugby and I suppose losing him now [along with] the loss of Keith Earls and Felix Jones, we’re losing what would appear to have been our first choice back three. That’s a blow we could have done without, but it’s an opportunity for others and some people have been taking that opportunity.

“As far as Doug is concerned, we just have to live with it and get on with it. Age will not be a barrier; it’s about how people are playing, not about their age.”

An RTÉ report yesterday suggested Zebo left training on crutches after going over on an ankle but a Munster spokesperson last night denied this was the case.

“He did twist an ankle, had the injury iced and rested up, but he was not on crutches.”

His injury remains a worry, though, in advance of Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash away to Llanelli Scarlets.

On a more positive note, if Fitzgerald et al are worried about the loss of so many front-line players, Earls is expected to provide a boost when he returns to full training next week. Jones and David Wallace are making enough progress to suggest they could be back by February, at least a month ahead of schedule.