A MATTER OF weeks after vowing to make an international comeback, Mike Ross now faces an extended period on the sidelines with a ‘high grade’ hamstring injury.
The 36-year-old prop sustained the injury five minutes into Leinster’s Pro12 victory at Zebre at the start of November.
An initial scan failed to determine the full extent of the damage but the province are fearing the worst ahead of a re-scan later this week.
Forwards coach John Fogarty this afternoon revealed Ross suffered a tear in the muscle and it’s understood the Cork native could now be out of action for a number of months.
It would be a cruel blow for the 61-time capped Ireland international who was last month left out of Joe Schmidt’s squad for the November Tests.
So long the cornerstone of the Irish scrum, Ross has been a regular during Schmidt’s time in charge but had fallen behind Tadgh Furlong in the pecking order at both club and international level.
Leinster expect to be in a position to confirm the exact prognosis of his injury setback later in the week.
The province’s medical staff are also assessing the fitness of Rory O’Loughlin and Dave Kearney ahead of this weekend’s trip to face the Scarlets.
O’Loughlin missed the trip to Parma with a shoulder injury he picked up in the win over Connacht but will return to full training this week. Kearney, meanwhile, remains a doubt as he works his way back from the ankle injury which is proving more troublesome than first thought.
Jordi Murphy, Cathal Marsh and Fergus McFadden remain long-term absentees.
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