Halstead Back For Cardiff Blues Game

The Magner’s League game scheduled for Musgrave Park in ten days time could be when Trevor Halstead and possibly John Kelly make their return to competitive action for Munster

Munster’s win last Friday in Netherdale didn’t exactly shoot them up the table but, that victory, coupled with Connacht’s defeat against Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, puts more daylight between themselves and Michael Bradley’s side in the all important quest for Heineken Cup participation next season.

The bonus point victory simply moved them to seventh position but with 31 points Munster are six points adrift of Ospreys who lie in third place.

Munster have seven games left in the Magners League and three of those seven games involve trips to Murrayfield (Edinburgh),  Ravenhill and the Liberty Stadium.  But the next order of business will be the home tie with Cardiff Blues in ten days time.

Players who are certain to miss that game are Anthony Horgan, Anthony Foley, Frank Roche and probably James Coughlan who suffered a medial strain in the game against Borders.

Roche is recovering from a neck injury and is not expected to resume playing for six weeks.
Horgan is troubled with an Achilles tendon injury. Achilles are notoriously slow to heal and best-case scenario for his return is thought to be 4-6 weeks.
Foley injured a calf in the game against Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park and his recovery has suffered a set-back that will see him struggle to be fit in time for the clash with Llanelli Scarlets at the end of March.

John Kelly popped a rib cartilage after twenty minutes against the Tigers and although well on the mend, it will be next week before there is a clear indication of when he will be fit to return.

Mossy Lawlor suffered a re-occurrence of an ankle injury playing for Shannon on Saturday and is ruled out for two to three weeks but there is good news of John O’Sullivan who has resumed light training after sustaining a knee injury against Newport-Gwent Dragons. The Cardiff game may see O’Sullivan return to action.

Also good news for Trevor Halstead who was also injured in that game also.  The former Springbok was named in the extended Munster squad for the game against Borders but didn’t make the match day squad as management felt it prudent to give him a little extra time to recover. He looks set to make his return to action in that game against the Blues.