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INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Heineken Cup

O'Driscoll could still recover for Wembley tie

The hamstrung Leinster centre may be fit to play against Saracens at England’s footballing HQ on Saturday.

IRELAND CAPTAIN Brian O’Driscoll may have recovered in time from his hamstring injury in time to take part in Leinster’s glamorous weekend tie against Saracens at Wembley.

O’Driscoll limped off midway during the second half in Leinster’s 38-22 victory over French Top 14 leaders Racing Metro 92 at the RDS on Saturday, having been caught wrong-footed attempting to tackle Fijian centre Albert Vulivuli.

At first coach Joe Schmidt believed the centre could have been set for as long as six weeks on the sidelines, though that estimate was later downgraded to a two-or-three week absence – meaning the captain would have been a fitness worry ahead of Ireland’s autumn internationals.

An MRI scan on his hamstring – a regular source of injury for Ireland’s record try-scorer – has shown, however, that the centre did not sustain any tear to the muscle, and a call should be made on whether to include him in the squad for Saturday’s Saracens clash will be made later this week.

The star had tweeted on Sunday that he hoped the injury was not as serious as first feared, and admitted he would be “gutted” to potentially miss the match in Wembley – the first Heineken Cup game to be played at the venue.

Leinster will be further boosted by the return to action of provincial captain Leo Cullen, who is just now overcoming a shoulder injury picked up at the tail end of last season. The second row will face light physical contact this week, and if he overcomes this will feature in Schmidt’s matchday plans, with Devon Toner returning to the bench.