Leinster and coach Leo Cullen are hopeful that Luke Fitzgerald will be fully fit for the beginning of their campaign in Europe against Premiership side Wasps in two weeks time.
The Irish centre and wing, who hit his old form during Ireland’s World Cup campaign in Wales and England, had a scan on a neck/shoulder injury yesterday and had yet to receive the results. He lasted just 28 minutes last weekend.
But Cullen was not concerned about Fitzgerald and it was only because of his past history of injury that he was sent for a scan. Fitzgerald was sidelined for many months over the last year with a litany of injuries which at one stage forced him to think about walking away from the game.
Leinster will not play him this weekend in their home Pro12 match against Scarlets but are confident he will be fit to go the following week.
Fitzgerald hurt himself defending a ruck close to the Leinster line during their game against Italian side Treviso, a game where hooker Sean Cronin also left the pitch injured.
Cronin is also on the mend and according to Leinster suffered a dead leg.
Outhalf Johnny Sexton also came through, although not without incident. Sexton, who has returned to Leinster after a two year spell with Racing Metro '92, was sin binned for 10 minutes for pulling back Italian Jayden Hayward.
While the Irish outhalf took the first kick of the match to convert a Leinster try, when he was binned Fergus McFadden took over the kicking duties.
On Sexton’s return to play McFadden continued to take the kicking. It was a groin problem that hampered Sexton’s fitness during Ireland’s World Cup campaign and kept him out of Ireland final match of the competition against Argentina.
However, Leinster say Sexton came through his allocated 60 minutes without causing them serious concern and while he didn’t train with the Leinster squad on Monday, he too is expected to be available to play in Europe.
The main aim for all of the players is to be available for the club’s opening European match against Wasps on November 15th in the RDS. A win is crucial before they hit the road and face Bath in The Rec on November 24th.
