Zebo and Murray set to return for Munster

Simon Zebo looks set to further boost Munster’s Heineken Cup hopes by following Conor Murray into action on Saturday for the must-win Pool 6 clash at Gloucester.

With Munster head coach Rob Penney yesterday expressing confidence that Ireland and Lions scrum-half Murray could be involved after a month out with a knee injury, there was additional good news when Test wing Zebo was declared to be in contention for his first start in 12 weeks. Both the Lions tourists will resume training at the University of Limerick today, making them contenders for the difficult trip to a near sold-out Kingsholm and alleviating to some extent concerns about an injury crisis across the squad.

While Murray had suffered medial ligament damage in his right knee during the home win over Perpignan last month, Zebo has been out with a cracked bone in his left foot sustained in the European opener at Edinburgh. He was initially targeted for a return last weekend in the league clash against Ulster at Ravenhill but appears to have benefited from an extra few days’ rehab, meaning only Donnacha Ryan as well as longer-term casualties Mike Sherry, Luke O’Dea and Niall Ronan appear to be ruled out.

That, though, is pending results from the scans underwent last night by scrum-half Cathal Sheridan and hooker Damien Varley. Sheridan injured a knee in Belfast and Varley a foot, problems which were to be assessed by specialists yesterday but now the dust has settled on the 29-19 loss to Ulster, there is far less doom and gloom in the camp than first appeared post-match. Were Varley to be ruled out in addition to fellow hooker Sherry, it would be an undoubted blow, with the inexperienced Duncan Casey and NiallScannell the only other ERC-registered hookers and Munster playing down any suggestion they have a match-ready reinforcement to bring in, this week at least.

Yet Casey enhanced his reputation by presiding over an excellent lineout at Ravenhill. And in the second row, Donncha O’Callaghan had initially added to the injury woes having been replaced after 30 minutes with a knee injury but the veteran lock is expected to take part in training this week.

James Downey’s irritated groin issue and the bruised shoulder of Keith Earls have both cleared and are due back in training this week while flanker Sean Dougall, a standout from the back to back wins over Perpignan last month before suffering a mild ankle sprain against Connacht on December 27, is “expected to re-integrate into training at the end of the week” according to a Munster squad update.

Fears over the fitness of Perpignan try-scoring hero JJ Hanrahan and loosehead prop James Cronin have also eased with the pair set to resume limited training today following groin and lower back problems.