Rugby:Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named an extended 35 man squad as Ulster prepare for Friday's RaboDirect Pro12 game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7.30).
Stephen Ferris, Rory Best, Tom Court and Andrew Trimble all return to the squad, having missed the win over Munster at the weekend because of their involvement in an Ireland training camp. Fellow Irish International Paddy Wallace has recovered from tendon damage to his thumb and is fit enough to be named in the provisional squad.
Young outhalf Paddy Jackson has also returned from injury and is in contention for a place in the match day group. Prop Paddy McAllister and fullback Peter Nelson picked up injuries in the Munster match and are ruled out. They join Jared Payne, Nevin Spence, Declan Fitzpatrick and Mike McComish on the sidelines.
Ulster have lost only one of their last five matches in all competitions; that came at the RDS against Leinster when the fielded a largely young and inexperienced side.
Meanwhile Leinster coach Joe Schmidt hopes to be in a position to welcome back several Ireland internationals into the panel for Saturday evening’s clash against Cardiff Blues in Cardiff City Stadium (6.15).
Following Sunday’s 15-13 victory over Connacht, the medical team reported that Richardt Strauss suffered an accidental blow to the face, though at this point he has not been ruled out of contention, with the team set to be announced on Friday lunchtime.
Aside from a number of niggles after the weekend’s win at t6he Sportsground there are no other major injury concerns as the squad shape up for the second match in a block of three successive away games. Kevin McLaughlin, who was rested for the win in Galway, looks set to return to the squad alongside the likes of Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Rob Kearney, Eoin Reddan, Mike Ross and Jonathan Sexton.
Steven Sykes (knee) hasn’t been ruled out of contention and he too could make the trip to the Welsh capital.
Ulster squad:Callum Black, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, John Afoa, Jerry Cronin, Andi Kyriacou, Nigel Brady, Rory Best, Lewis Stevenson, Johann Muller (captain), Dan Tuohy, Tim Barker, Neil McComb, Stephen Ferris, Pedrie Wannenburg, Willie Faloon, Ali Birch, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, James McKinney, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Darren Cave, Stefan Terblanche, Craig Gilroy, Simon Danielli, Chris Cochrane, Conor Gaston, Andrew Trimble, Adam D'Arcy
Unavailable due to injury:Declan Fitzpatrick, Jared Payne, Nevin Spence, Paddy McAllister, Michael McComish, Peter Nelson
