Shoulder Surgery To Sideline Cooney For Up To Three Months
As attention returns to the GUINNESS PRO12 and Connacht’s first interprovincial game of the season away to Munster, the westerners’ medical team have provided the following update.
Scrum half John Cooney will undergo shoulder stabilisation surgery today following an injury suffered in the Benetton Treviso game earlier this month. He is expected to be sidelined for up to three months.
Kiwi flanker Nepia Fox-Matamua, Connacht’s Player of the Month for October, is awaiting results from a surgeon review that took place earlier in the week. A prognosis on his knee injury will be provided when known.
Both Eoin McKeon and Ben Marshall were removed during the second half of last Saturday’s European Challenge Cup win over Brive with suspected concussion. Having failed the initial HIA tests, the forward duo will continue to go through the return-to-play protocols.
Andrew Browne had surgical repair to a hand laceration immediately following Saturday’s game. The Galway man is unavailable for the Munster clash but is expected to return for the Cardiff Blues match next week.
Meanwhile, having missed both rounds of Challenge Cup action, Matt Healy is now fit and available for selection. Fellow winger Danie Poolman, who was a late withdrawal from the Brive encounter, continues to rehab a hamstring injury.
Fionn Carr, Connacht’s record try scorer, was due to return against Brive but aggravated a calf injury in training late last week. It is expected that the winger will be sidelined for another three to four weeks.
Centre Dave McSharry suffered concussion playing in last Saturday’s British & Irish Cup game for Connacht Eagles against Doncaster Knights. He will go through the return-to-play protocols as standard.