Cronin return to ease Reds’ scrum-half concerns

NEIL CRONIN is ahead of schedule in his return from a shoulder injury and he could yet make the bench for Munster’s Champions Cup opener in Exeter on Saturday.

With Conor Murray (neck) and James Hart (knee) currently sidelined through injury and with Alby Mathewson in a race to be fit after picking up a knee injury in the defeat to Leinster, Munster’s options are severely limited.

Munster yesterday added Cronin to their Champions Cup squad and it is understood that if the 25-yearold comes through his fitness tests this week, he may feature.

As things stand, should Mathewson miss out, Duncan Williams will start at scrum-half, with the Academy’s Jack Stafford providing the back-up.

Cronin damaged his shoulder in the defeat to Glasgow last month and hasn’t featured since but he has taken a limited part in training this week, which has subsequently prompted Munster to register the Limerick native for Europe at the expense of out-half Bill Johnston.

Cronin had started his first season back in professional rugby brightly and his possible return would no doubt come as a welcome relief to Johann van Graan ahead of a very difficult opening assignment against the Premiership leaders.

The Munster boss will, however, give Mathewson every chance to prove his fitness.

Elsewhere, Kieran Marmion is set to be fit for Ireland’s November internationals as the ankle injury he suffered in the early stages of the win over Ulster is not as bad as first feared.

The scrum-half will, however, miss Connacht’s Challenge Cup opener at home to Bordeaux-Begles, while Tiernan O’Halloran and centre Tom Farrell are also doubtful.

Meanwhile, Marty Moore, Jordi Murphy, Will Addison and Craig Gilroy are back in Ulster training for their meeting with Leicester.