Munster and Ireland fly-half Joey Carbery is in line to make his return from injury during this Saturday’s PRO14 derby against Leinster at Thomond Park.
The No 10 has been out of action since returning from the Rugby World Cup in Japan after struggling with an ankle injury that he picked up in Ireland’s first warm-up game ahead of the tournament.
Despite looking off the pace and in an apparent race against time to be fit for the World Cup, Carbery was selected in the country’s squad. However, he only seemed to aggravate the injury while in Japan and has been sidelined since.
However, Munster head coach Johann Van Graan is positive ahead of his possible return against their rivals on Saturday.
“It’s possible. A few things still need to go right. He did a bit of training with us on Thursday and obviously he’ll go to the stocktake of the national team and then we won’t train again after Monday until Thursday. So, we’ll see him back on Thursday and then we’ll make a decision on his availability. Like I said, I’m not going to put him on the field if he’s not 100% right so we’ll make that call if the call is in our hands on Thursday. What I mean by that is if he keeps improving day in, day out,” he said.
It would be a big boost for the southern province, but Carbery won’t just walk back into the starting line-up, with JJ Hanrahan starring in his absence, especially during the weekend’s 19-14 win over Connacht as he knocked over all five of his kicks from the tee.
The past year has been rough for Carbery, who also missed large parts of the latter stages of last season due to a hamstring injury, before this ankle injury took place.
His return would be a welcome one for both Munster and Ireland, with the nation preparing for the Six Nations in February and with first-choice out-half Johnny Sexton an injury concern for the opening rounds, Carbery could be well placed to stake a claim for a starting berth if he can hit the ground running.
