Side to Face Gloucester to be Named on Thursday

Munster trained yesterday at Thomond Park where the squad that travelled to England, with the exception of Marcus Horan, were put through a rigorous training session.

Munster trained yesterday at Thomond Park where the squad that travelled to England, with the exception of Marcus Horan, were put through a rigorous training session.

Coach Alan Gaffney supervised the backs while assistant Brian Hickey took charge of the forwards with the help of scrummage coach Paul McCarthy.

Horan was replaced in the game against Gloucester last weekend when he suffered a slight back injury and although he sat out the session in Thomond Park, all the indications are that he will be contention when Gaffney selects his side for the return game on Saturday (Thomond Park, 5pm).

Also in attendance at Thomond Park were Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy and Jason Jones-Hughes, the three of whom will be out of action for the forseeable future.

The other injury update concerns Christian Cullen who visited his specialist in Dublin last week. And the news from there is good insofar as Cullen is reported to have made good progress in his rehab. The specialist has expressed his complete satisfaction with the way the injured shoulder is mending and Cullen is due to return to the Blackrock Clinic in the first week in February when a clearer picture for a date of his return is expected.

The Munster squad will spend Wednesday in their respective bases (Limerick/Cork) and have a training session on Thursday in Cork after which Alan Gaffney will announce his side for the weekend.