Boost for Munster as Earls and Ryan set for return

Munster have received a potential double boost to their Heineken Cup double-header preparations with Perpignan next month with the possible return of Ireland duo Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls after injury.

Both players were ruled out of Ireland’s Autumn Tests against Samoa, Australia and New Zealand with Ryan damaging knee ligaments in Munster’s European pool game against Gloucester on October 19 and initially ruled out for 10 weeks, taking his recovery up to the new year.

Earls, meanwhile, went down with another knee condition, patella tendonitis, on the eve of Munster’s league trip to Glasgow a week later.