LEINSTER COACH MATT O’Connor today resisted the temptation to put an exact timeframe on the return of Fergus McFadden, but did promise the winger would be back in action before the summer.
The international utility back hobbled off in the first half of Leinster’s 29 – 14 Heineken Cup defeat to Toulon on Sunday.
McFadden was put on crutches as a precaution after the medical staff’s initial assessment of the injury and there had been fears that he would miss the remainder of this season.
However, speaking before today’s training session at UCD, head coach O’Connor said that the 27-year-old is expected back before the campaign is out, though not by much.
“Ferg’s got a medial [ligament] strain; it’s not as bad as we first thought. He’ll be back before the end of the season.”
With Joe Schmidt clearly a big fan of the winger, McFadden could yet prove himself fit and worthy of a place in Ireland’s touring squad for the June Tests against Argentina.
Leinster’s last fixture of the season could come as early as the Pro12 semi-finals on May 17, though they will hope to defend their title right up until the Grand Final on May 31.
