It is now hoped that Horan will resume competitive action in mid-January in time for Munster’s round five Heineken Cup pool match away to Benetton Treviso.
Munster manager Shaun Payne said Horan continued to do ‘remarkably’ well following a routine medical procedure in early November.
Payne said: “Marcus is back in full training now and we will see how he deals with that.
“We are not going to be pushing anything unduly at this stage. We are hoping if everything goes according to plan, he will be available for the Treviso game.”
Munster will be without seven of their Irish internationals for the December 26 meeting with Connacht. The front-line players are having a week of ‘active rest’ after being involved in up to six big games over the past eight weeks.
Out-half Ronan O’Gara is included in the 27-strong squad named for the clash with Michael Bradley’s Connacht, however.
Shaun Payne explained: “As you are aware, as agreed with national management, in phase two of the season, running up to Six Nations, there are a group of players who are only allowed play six out of eight games. I think John Hayes may have played one less than six, but this is a week which has been earmarked as an active rest week. Obviously Ronan O’Gara, much to his disappointment, hasn’t had the same workload as some of the other guys and he is included in the squad for the game with Connacht. Ronan’s momentum is building nicely. He is playing very well and I felt he was outstanding at the weekend. He actually needs the game time.”
O’Gara is likely to feature in the starting line-up for the Thomond Park clash, the first of two inter-provincials Munster will be involved in over the Festive and New Year period. Jerry Flannery remains on course to make his return in the away Heineken Cup tie with Treviso in the middle of next month.
While Munster haven’t lost at home to Connacht for more than two decades, Payne is expecting the Westerners, boosted by back-to-back wins over English side Worcester in the Amlin Challenge Cup, to provide a stern examination on St Stephen’s night.
“I don’t think I had one easy game against Connacht when I was playing. I have been involved in management for two years and it is never easy against them,” Shaun Payne said.
“It is usually around this time of the year that we play them. Nothing is going to be taken for granted. Connacht are always well up for the game. It is an inter-pro. It is always an unbelievably tough game.
“They have been in really decent form recently and recorded some excellent results in the Amlin Challenge Cup. They will be confident and up for it. We will be for it as well. We lost in Galway around this time last year.
“There are a number of players in our squad who will be itching to play this week. Ian Dowling has had a tough time with selection and he is bursting for a game. The same applies to the likes of Felix Jones. It is a massive opportunity for these guys to lay down a marker.”
Munster squad v Connacht: Darragh Hurley, Wian du Preez, Julien Brugnaut, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Mike Sherry, Tony Buckley, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Nick Williams, James Coughlan, Tommy O’Donnell, Peter Stringer, Duncan Williams, Ronan O’Gara, Paul Warwick, Jean de Villiers, Lifeimi Mafi, Tom Gleeson, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Felix Jones, Denis Hurley, Scott Deasy.
Colm Kinsella
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