Munster Rugby may give Earls a run at Zebre

Ireland wing Keith Earls could be in line for a seasonal debut at Zebre this weekend as Munster weigh his need for match fitness ahead of their crucial Champions Cup tie with Saracens.

Earls, 27, will today be assessed by the province’s medics for any adverse reaction in his right knee from yesterday’s training session in Cork as coach Anthony Foley tries to finalise a team for Saturday’s Pro12 game in Italy.

If selected it would be the Moyross back’s first game since injuring a patellar tendon in August, a problem which eventually needed surgery in late September. With Munster’s issues at centre underlined on January 1 at Connacht, when Robbie Henshaw led a charge through midfield in the westerners’ league victory, the return of Earls would be a major boost ahead of the must-win trip to Pool One rivals Saracens on January 17.