Eoin Reddan looks set to miss Ireland's Six Nations opener against Scotland this Sunday.

The scrum-half is struggling with a calf strain, which means that his Leinster team-mate Isaac Boss has now been called-up to the Ireland camp to provide cover for Conor Murray.

However, the Irish management are confident that Mike McCarthy will be fit for selection.

The second-row needed 23 stitches to the head wound that he suffered in a stamping incident during Leinster's Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys earlier this month.

But he will be wearing protective headgear on Sunday if selected.

Image: Eoin Reddan ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne