Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Joy of Six for Kieran and Irish
KIERAN MARMION is set to give Joe Schmidt some badly needed good news on the scrum-half front after confirming he is on course for a Six Nations return.
However, it remains to be seen if he will be fit for the opening clash against England and might not be back until Ireland travel to Scotland a week later.
The weekend injuries to Luke Mcgrath and John Cooney has created a headache for Schmidt as he plots the defence of the Grand Slam, but Marmion is on course to return.
“Everything is looking to plan,” revealed Marmion, 26, yesterday. “I just started back running again now a week or so ago. Everything seems to be going fine. Hopefully the next few weeks and I will be able to get back out and play.”
He won his 24th cap in the November win over New Zealand and underwent surgery a few days later on a troublesome ankle injury.
“It was just a ligament injury I had for a few weeks, and I just needed to get it sorted in the long-term. We got that done as quickly as possible after the New Zealand game.”
Marmion said that his first task will be to get back into the Connacht side where Caolin Blade, who could be catapulted into the Irish scene if the scrum-half injury problem deepens, has been superb this season.
“He has been going really well,” added Marmion. “I have a good battle there to get back in the team, but that’s good competition and it will drive me on.
“The thing I am aiming for is just to get back and get some game time under my belt, especially with Connacht,” said the scrum half.