Munster head coach Johann van Grann expects Joey Carbery to miss the "first few rounds" of this season's European Champions Cup.
The fly-half played just under 70 minutes of rugby during the recent World Cup that ended in a quarter-final exit for Ireland at the hand of the All Blacks. He had been nursing an ankle issue he sustained in the World Cup warm-up game against Italy in August.
Speaking at the launch of this season's European Champions Cup, van Grann said, "Look, we'll just take it week by week with Joey. He's not going to be ready for the first few weeks. Most of the guys have come back in pretty good nick.
"Great to see everybody. Some of them will be involved this weekend, and some in only come back next week. Joey specifically will be out for a few weeks.
"It's a very difficult one. He struggled with that ankle. Our medical team is working tirelessly with him. Very difficult to speculate, he's had it for a while.
"As I said, we will take it week by week. Don't imagine he will be ready for the first few rounds of Europe and hopefully it goes well with his rehab we can have him back quickly.
Carbery was named in Ireland's team to face Russia in the Pool stages of the World Cup and came off the bench on a number of occasions. Van Grann was asked if playing aggravated the injury.
"I don't want to speculate on that," the Munster coach said. "He was with Ireland at the World Cup. He's back with us now and all we can do is look after him and make sure he gets onto the field as soon as possible."
Munster will open up their 2019-20 European Champions Cup campaign away to Welsh side Ospreys on November 16th, before welcoming Racing 92 to Thomand Park two weeks later.
The other team in the Pool are reigning champions Saracens, who were hit with a 35-point deduction and a £5 million for salary cap irregularities, a decision they say they will appeal.
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