JORDI MURPHY IS set to make his first appearance for Ulster in Friday night’s Guinness Pro14 clash with Edinburgh at Kingspan Stadium [KO 7.35pm, eir Sport/Premier Sport].
Hooker Rob Herring is also available for selection after the Ireland pair sat out last weekend’s win over Scarlets as part of the IRFU’s player management programme.
Murphy’s summer switch to Belfast ended his seven-year spell with Leinster and the flanker’s return to action further bolsters Ulster’s pack as the club’s international players continue to make staggered comebacks.
Both Iain Henderson and John Cooney, who kicked the winning points against Scarlets, returned for Dan McFarland’s first game in charge on Saturday evening.
26-year-old Murphy featured in all three of Ireland’s summer Tests against Australia, while Herring started the first and came off the bench in Melbourne and Sydney to win his fifth and sixth international caps.
The fit-again Marcell Coetzee got through 55 minutes of his comeback in the seasonal opener, and the prospect of the Springbok lining up alongside Murphy and the in-form Nick Timoney in a powerful back row unit is one that will excite Ulster fans.
Captain Rory Best remains unavailable this week as he’s managed following the hamstring injury which saw him miss the tour Down Under, while Jacob Stockdale continues his comeback from the grade two hamstring tear he suffered in pre-season.
Marty Moore sat out the weekend’s season-opener after sustaining a calf injury in training and an update on his fitness is expected later today.
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