News of the centre’s imminent return will be a big boost to Michael Bradley and his squad ahead of the Celtic League games against Ulster and the Dragons and the two European Challenge Cup games against Montpellier and Amatori Catania.

Bradley has also added Colm Rigney, who returns from a neck injury, to the squad that travelled to Thomond Park on Tuesday, along with Christian Short, Keith Matthews and Conor O’Loughlin who is called in as cover for injury doubt Tom Tierney (shoulder).

Connacht Squad:
Forwards (13) Ray Hogan, Adrian Clarke, Stephen Knoop, John Fogarty, Joe Merrigan, Andrew Farley, David Gannon, Christian Short, Michael Swift, John Muldoon, Brendan O’Connor, Matt Lacey, Colm Rigney.

Backs: (13) Chris Keane, Tom Tierney, Conor O’Loughlin, Paul Warwick, David Slemen, Keith Matthews, John Hearty, Andrew Mailei, Gavin Williams, Conor McPhillips, Ted Robinson, Mark McHugh, Matt Mostyn,