Just 45 days until Ireland's opening game of the Rugby World Cup against Canada and Joe Schmidt's major injury worry is Cian Healy.
The prop underwent surgery for a neck injury earlier in the summer and his progress has been been less than optimal considering the looming international tournament.
Schmidt told the Sunday Independent that if the Leinster man is unavailable for selection for Ireland's final warm-up game against England on September 5th, then he will have a tough decision to make regarding whether or not he should go to the World Cup.
Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby has also been speaking about Healy and his words encourage some cautious optimism.
Easterby told the Irish Times that the 27-year-old will hopefully be ready for action 'towards the end of August'.
Cian Healy is progressing nicely, and working week to week with the medical team. We’re giving him the best opportunity to get right over the next couple of weeks so we can hopefully include him towards the end of August.
Along with Cian Healy, Easterby said that the only other injury doubts for this Ireland's first warm-up game - which takes place this weekend against Wales at the Millennium Stadium - are Luke Fitzgerald, Sean Cronin and Marty Moore.
