DUNMANWAY’S Darren Sweetnam could come back into the reckoning on Friday evening for Munster’s trip to Viadana to face Zebre.

He played 50 minutes for Cork Con in their win over Ballynahinch with Munster coach Johann van Graan saying he was happy with Sweetnam and Tommy O’Donnell’s progress.

“We are continuing to give most of our guys time in the AIL. So a lot of our players and all the academy lads played club rugby over the weekend.

“Tommy did the game day warm up with us on Friday evening and he’s raring to go and you know Sweets came through about 50 minutes on the weekend so both of them or available for selection this weekend.”

The picture is not so clear with his two injured out-halves, Tyler Bleyendaal and Joey Carbery.

“Tyler has started to do some running but there is still a bit of time to go on him. He’s progressing but, like we said right from the start, we won’t put him back into rugby until he’s been medically cleared.

“Joey has gone for another update at the back end of last week and we’re still waiting for one or two reports on him and you know we are having a real good look at his development over the coming months whilst he is away from the game so as soon as we have any updates we will give that.”

Meanwhile England have been dealt a big blow ahead of Sunday’s clash against Ireland in the Six Nations, with loosehead prop Mako Vunipola ruled out.

The Saracens man has not been named in England’s squad this week as he has travelled to Tonga – where his parents are from – for family reasons.

Eddie Jones will most likely pick Joe Marler and Ellis Genge as his two looseheads for Sunday’s Triple Crown decider.