Earls lined up for A return

KEITH EARLS is likely to return to competitive rugby this weekend having recovered from the ankle ligament injury sustained at the start of the RaboDirect Pro12 league clash with Leinster on November 4.

But Earls’ comeback may not be in the Heineken Cup; instead he could be introduced off the bench for Munster A in their crucial British and Irish Cup tie away to Moseley.

Following the A team victory over Ayr in Tralee on Saturday, coach Ian Costello suggested Earls may be available to him in Birmingham and had been in contention for the clash in the Kingdom