Munster's Casey, Kleyn and O'Donoghue step up recoveries ahead of Glasgow trip

Wednesday’s news that the trio are “increasing their training exposures” is undoubtedly a boost as Ian Costello’s side face into a critical few weeks.

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025 - 15:52

Simon Lewis

Munster frontliners Craig Casey, Jean Kleyn and Jack O’Donoghue are all nearing returns from injury but their availability for this Friday’s return to URC action at defending champions Glasgow Warriors appears unlikely.

Wednesday’s news that the trio are “increasing their training exposures” is undoubtedly a boost as Ian Costello’s side face into a critical few weeks with just six matches of the URC regular season and a Champions Cup Round of 16 trip to La Rochelle on the horizon.

Ireland scrum-half Casey sustained a meniscus injury to his knee in December at Castres while double World Cup-winning South African lock Kleyn has been sidelined with a thigh injury since the November Test window, six games into his comeback from eye and knee injuries which had limited his contribution to the Munster cause to just one appearance in 2023-24.

Back-rower O’Donoghue has missed one game so far, the February 28 home defeat in Cork to Edinburgh, having suffered a thigh injury but Munster confirmed back-three player Patrick Campbell and lock/back-rower Cian Hurley both came through their returns from respective shoulder and knee issues in a friendly at Leicester Tigers last Friday without any adverse effects and are in the squad for the trip to second-placed Glasgow.

Interim head coach Ian Costello is set to name his matchday squad on Thursday but in addition to Casey, Kleyn and O’Donoghue will also be without long-term injury casualties Shane Daly (hamstring), Diarmuid Kilgallen (thigh), Mike Haley (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (thigh), Thaakir Abrahams (shoulder), Liam Coombes (chest), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles) and Roman Salanoa (knee).

Yet there will be front-row reinforcements available with loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman due to return from a five-month absence due to knee and hip injuries while tighthead Oli Jager is also a potential returnee following his recovery from a foot injury sustained for Ireland A against England A in Bristol on February 23.