Ireland trio set to return to Munster training

The Irish international trio of Keith Earls, Niall Scannell and James Cronin are set to return to Munster training this week ahead of the province's trip to Welford Road on Sunday to face the Leicester Tigers.

Earls returns to training this week after injuring his hamstring while training with Ireland last month while Scannell will continue to work his way back to full fitness after undergoing surgery on a thumb injury he suffered against Castres in October. Meanwhile prop James Cronin will return to training in a limited capacity as he continues to recover from a calf injury he sustained in the Barbarians 27-24 win over Tonga last month. Elsewhere winger Andrew Conway and hooker Rhys Marshall have both been placed under the return to play protocols after both players sustained concussions during Munster's 33-10 win over Leicester last weekend, while on a more positive note, flanker Tommy O'Donnell played the full 80  minutes for the Munster A side in their nine-point loss to the Bedford Blues on Friday after overcoming a shoulder injury. All players retunred to the High Performance Centre in Limerick on Tuesday as preparations begin for the province's return trip Leicester this weekend.