McFadden out for at least a month

By Dan Pitcher

Leinster will be without Fergus McFadden for this Sunday’s trip to Harlequins in the European Champions Cup.

McFadden only made a return to action last week in the win over Ospreys at the RDS in the Guinness Pro 12.

At his press briefing this afternoon in UCD, Coach Matt O’Connor confirmed the news.

“Unfortunately Fergus McFadden picked up a thumb injury which he’s had surgery on to repair some damage to ligaments so he will be out for four to six weeks.” O’Connor said.

“He had surgery on Tuesday, post training he was a little bit sore and we scanned it after that and he had surgery.”

“It’s disappointing for him, only coming back from an ankle injury and he played quite well the other night and would have been in the panel.”

“He’s incredibly frustrated with the injury run he’s had over the last little while but he will be back.”

At the beginning of the week, the Leinster head coach had a number of injury concerns ahead of the trip to Twickenham Stoop which he says has eased significantly.

Among them, Mike McCarthy and Kane Douglas who were following return to play protocols from head injuries.

“Mike’s fine and Douglas is fine, we have had a good training week and we are ready for what’s in store for us.”

Meanwhile Luke Fitzgerald’s injury nightmare rumbles on but he remains 50/50 to feature against Conor O’Shea’s side.

He was withdrawn at the 11th hour against Treviso two weeks ago as he aggravated his recent groin problem.

“He’s spent ten days doing some intensive rehab post the Treviso disappointment and he’s trained very well so fingers crossed he will be involved.”

In somewhat of a boost to the squad and indeed Irish Rugby, O’Connor had some better news on some of the longer term injury absentees.

“It’s been pretty good, Sean O’Brien, Marty Moore and Cian (Healy) are doing very well and it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that they will feature in rounds five and six which is a huge boost for the squad.”

This weekend is the beginning of a crucial month for the province as far as their European hopes and Pro 12 defence is concerned.

Back to back games against Harlequins will be followed by Guinness Pro 12 inter-pro’s against Connacht and Munster.

O’Connor knows it’s a season defining month.

“In the league we are playing teams that are in and around us and there’s opportunities to take points off teams that are in front of us and the European pool will be decided on the next two weekend’s and that’s the focus.”