Ireland winger Keith Earls had to leave the field to injury during Ireland's Grand Slam victory in Twickenham over the weekend, and it doesn't look good for the remainder of his season.
Former Munster and Ireland flanker Alan Quinlan joined Off The Ball AM to review the historic weekend, and said that Earls isn't too optimistic over what is believed to be a medial knee ligament injury, having spoken to him after the win.
"It's his medial ligament. I spoke to him after the game and he wasn't optimistic. I think when I saw him out on the field with his kids afterwards I said 'maybe it's not too bad', and I saw the ice pack on it, but he wasn't too optimistic after the game, which is a massive blow for Munster with the Champions Cup coming up".
"It's his medial ligament. I spoke to him after the game and he wasn't too optimistic"
Alan Quinlan says Keith Earls could be out for six weeks with a knee injury suffered against England at the weekend.@eir pic.twitter.com/nGbzk1xIAc
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 20, 2018
When quizzed on the potential recovery time for such an injury, Quinlan said that surgery may not be required, but a lot depends on the extent of the damage sustained, which hasn't come to light yet.
"It depends on the medial, if it's Grade Three, Grade Two, or Grade One. Depending on how serious it is and how much damage is done there, you're looking at six weeks possibly".
With Munster playing Toulon in quarter-final of the European Champions Cup in just 11 days, the signs don't look good for Earls, or Munster as they've lost what Quinlan described as a phenomenal player in the height of form.
"It's a massive blow for him, and he's been sensational throughout the tournament, he just looks so electric every time he touches the ball".
