Keith Earls hopeful of return for crucial Munster clashes after getting positive injury update

17 March 2018; Keith Earls of Ireland after picking up an injury during the NatWest Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in London, England. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Will Slattery Twitter Email

April 11 2018 08:44 AM

Keith Earls is hoping to play a part in the end of Munster's season after discovering that the knee injury suffered in Ireland's Grand Slam win against England wasn't as bad as first feared.

The star wing was stretchered off at Twickenham after suffering the knock, with Earls initially worried that he had damaged his cruciate ligament. The Munster star had to sit out his province's epic Champions Cup quarter-final win against Toulon as a result, but is hopeful of being fit for some crucial games towards the end of the season after getting a more positive diagnosis.

Speaking on The Left Wing, Independent.ie's rugby podcast in association with Laya Healthcare, Earls offered an update on his progress as he fights to get back on the field.

"Definitely this season, but when is the question," Earls said when asked if he was hopeful of featuring before the end of the campaign.

"Obviously what happened to me, I did think it was my ACL.

"The scan showed that it wasn't as bad as first thought. It is an MCL injury. I'm touch and go, I'm rehabbing and was running this week. Look, who knows, hopefully it will be fine in the coming weeks."

Munster are well positioned in both the Champions Cup and the Guinness PRO 14, with a victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this weekend enough to secure them a home quarter-final.

The following week, the southern province will renew their rivalry with Racing 92 in the Champions Cup semi-final, as Munster look to qualify for their first final since 2008.

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