Munster say that Conor Murray and Simon Zebo have returned to squad training this week.

Head coach Rob Penney maintains hope that Murray will feature in Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Gloucester after making a quicker than expected return from a medial ligament injury.

Zebo is back in training after a 12 week absence because of a cracked bone in his left foot.

James Downey, Keith Earls, Sean Dougall, James Cronin and JJ Hanrahan will all return to training this week and their progress will be monitored ahead of the trip to Kingsholm.

Donncha O'Callaghan is also expected to be available this weekend, despite suffering a knee injury during the first half of Friday's defeat to Ulster, while scrum-half Cathal Sheridan and hooker Damien Varley have both been sent for scans today to establish how long they are likely to be out of action for.

Main image by ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan