Earls and Ryan set to return to fire Munster’s Euro climax

Munster are keeping their fingers crossed that two experienced Irish Internationals, Keith Earls and Donnacha Ryan, will be available for their European Champions Cup games against Saracens and Sale Sharks next month.

The pair missed the autumn internationals along with the opening four rounds of the Champions Cup as a result of injuries but hopes are rising they are finally turning the corner.

“Donnacha is going quite well, he’s hitting all the milestones as he recovers,” said assistant coach Brian Walsh at UL yesterday after Munster’s first session since Sunday’s game in Clermont. “He’ll have to go through a period where he puts more pressure on his foot and that’s going to take some time and that’s probably further out than Keith, who is doing well at the moment. Keith’s running on grass and we’re quite hopeful that if things go according to plan, he’ll be back for the Zebre game on January 10.”