MUNSTER BACK ROW Dave O’Callaghan looks set to miss the remainder of the season after a patellar tendon injury to his knee was confirmed today.

The 24-year-old will undergo surgery on the right knee today after suffering the injury during the first half of Saturday’s win over Zebre.

The province say he will rehab ‘for the immediate future’, with three months often taken as the minimum recovery period for such an injury.

There is better news elsewhere in Anthony Foley’s pack as the southern province build up to a meeting with the Ospreys this weekend. Paddy Butler returns to training after suffering a neck injury while playing for Shannon.

Hooker Damien Varley is also close to a return to full training while following return to play concussion protocols. Duncan Casey picked up a dead leg in the win over Zebre and fitness staff will ‘monitor’ him as the week progresses.

There is clear progress too for Ivan Dineen and Luke O’Dea in their return from ankle and ligament injuries respectively. Dineen started for Cork Con on his road to recovery while O’Dea is back in limited training.

The Munster medical team have issued only a ‘progressing well’ for winger Keith Earls after his injury against Edinburgh in January. Niall Scannell is seven weeks away from a return after hyper-extending his elbow in training.

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