After the bad news that Tommy O'Donnell has been ruled out of the World Cup with a dislocated hip, fears were growing after Andrew Trimble's first scan on his foot injury didn't come back with positive news.
Joe Schmidt revealed today that Trimble's second scan has come back with much better news. Trimble's ligaments are still intact, says Schmidt, and there is just some bruising in his foot and toes.
Schmidt is hopeful that Trimble will be starting light training last week. The idea is that he will be fully fit and back training on Monday week, in the week leading into being in contention for the return Wales game.
Schmidt said that the issue is in a similar area to the toe injury that ruled Trimble out for long stretches of last season, but that there is a confidence that he will return in time for the Welsh game.
Schmidt has said that he will sit down with his coaches after this weekend's Scotland game to try and put together a 31 man squad. Schmidt thinks that he might extend it to 36, but should know the vast majority of the makeup of the final squad by the time he announces his team for the return Wales game.
Ireland's final 31-man World Cup squad will have to be named on 31st August.
See Also: Ireland Team To Play Scotland: Joe Schmidt Rings The Changes From Dominant Wales Display
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
