Jeremy Loughman and Alex Nankivell return to Munster training

Shane Daly and Oli Jager set to go for scan following injuries picked up during the Ireland A game against England A on Sunday.

TEAM UPDATE: Jeremy Loughman and Alex Nankivell have returned to training following their respective injuries.

Munster have received mixed news from their medics ahead of Friday’s return to URC action at home to Edinburgh with Jeremy Loughman and Alex Nankivell returning to training but Shane Daly and Oli Jager set to go for scans.

Ian Costello’s side has climbed to fifth in the table with seven rounds to play before the end of season play-offs and face an Edinburgh side at Cork’s Virgin Media Park looking to join them in the top eight qualifying spots from ninth place, two points adrift of eighth and six points behind their hosts.

The returns of Ireland loosehead prop Loughman from a four-month absence due to a hip injury and New Zealand Maori centre Nankivell after sustaining a hamstring injury at Ulster in the week before Christmas are a boost that has been offset by the carnage exacted on Munster players on Ireland A duty against England A in Bristol last Sunday.

Daly, who was playing full-back, left Ashton Gate on crutches following a first-half hamstring injury while tighthead prop Jager came off the bench on 44 minutes and limped off with a foot issue 15 minutes later. Both will go scans to determine the course and length of treatment required but hooker Diarmuid Barron, has completed his Head Injury Assessment return to play protocols following his removal after just five minutes of the 28-12 Irish defeat.

Another to come through his HIA protocols, after a head knock sustained during Munster’s URC win at Scarlets last time out on February 15 is lock/flanker Tom Ahern while the province on Tuesday said back-rower Jack O’Donoghue will not require surgery on the ankle he injured in the same game.

Munster continue to do without longer-term absentees Diarmuid Kilgallen (thigh), Mike Haley (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (thigh), Thaakir Abrahams (shoulder), Craig Casey (knee), Jean Kleyn (thigh), Liam Coombes (chest), Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles), and Roman Salanoa (knee).