'Everybody's in the mixer': Munster hopeful Jeremy Loughman and Michael Milne could face Leinster

Munster are keeping open the possibility either Jeremy Loughman or Michael Milne could face Leinster in this Saturday’s URC derby at Aviva Stadium. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.

Munster are keeping open the possibility either Jeremy Loughman or Michael Milne could face Leinster in this Saturday’s URC derby at Aviva Stadium, despite both loosehead props being declared as injury doubts.

The injury concerns at loosehead rose after Munster revealed on Tuesday that Loughman was being assessed for a knee injury following the Champions Cup win over Racing 92.

With fellow Ireland international cap Michael Milne also currently sidelined with an ankle injury, head coach Clayton McMillan’s resources are potentially stretched. Loughman was replaced by Josh Wycherley in what had seemed to be a tactical substitution alongside starting tighthead prop Jack Aungier after 57 minutes of the Racing encounter in Cork with McMillan reporting no injuries to his matchday squad following the 33-25 pool victory.

Yet Tuesday’s squad update said Loughman’s availability for the Aviva Stadium derby this weekend was to be determined later this week.

Milne and hooker Diarmuid Barron (neck), both of whom missed the European fixture, were in the same update described as “continuing to recover from their injuries” but there was a slightly more optimistic note to the status given to a quartet of other players.

Hooker Lee Barron (ankle), back-three player Shane Daly (groin), lock Edwin Edogbo (shoulder) and fly-half/full-back Will Harrison (knee) were said to be all “increasing their training load with availability to be determined later this week”.

Later on Tuesday, forwards coach Jimmy Duffy offered a more positive take on his loosehead options.

“I know the boys are rehabbing at the moment, but everybody's in contention as of now,” Duffy said of Loughman and Milne.

“Everybody's in the mixer. We just keep pushing to make sure everybody's up to speed. It's a long season with a lot of games.

“You'll have 30-something games this season. It's really important everybody's ready to go.”

The prospect of at least Loughman having a chance of playing this weekend will be a boost to Ireland boss Andy Farrell ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s Nations Championship squad announcement.

The 31-year-old came off the bench in two of the three summer Tests during the first window of the new tournament, backing up Tom O’Toole both against Australia and New Zealand. O’Toole also started against Japan, with Billy Bohan on the bench in Newcastle in that middle Test.

Andrew Porter had missed the tour but has returned this season with Leinster and will be favourite to start the autumn opener against Argentina in Dublin on November 6.

There are also back-row places up for grabs with captain Caelan Doris ruled out with knee and foot injuries while fellow No.8 Jack Conan sustained a shoulder injury at Clermont last Saturday and is a doubt for this weekend.

Munster’s uncapped Brian Gleeson started the Racing game and scored a try and has been dovetailing at No.8 with Gavin Coombes, who could return to the starting back row against Leinster. Forwards coach Duffy was hesitant to give either player prominence in discussion of their Ireland prospects.

Asked specifically about 22-year-old Gleeson’s chances of a call up from Farrell on Wednesday, Duffy said: “They've been great. He and Gavin have been sharing the workload in there and they've both been brilliant.

“They add real firepower and they've both been playing really well. Whatever guy is involved on a weekly basis, they've been great. I've been really impressed with both of them.”

Asked about Gleeson’s readiness for Test rugby, the forwards coach added: "It always is (a big step up), but exposure is exposure. Number one thing is play well for Munster and then whatever happens down the line, happens down the line. You have two guys who are going really, really well in that slot for us. We're happy with what he's producing for us.”