Wexford management have insisted that Jack Guiney remains part of their plans for 2016 and that the reason he missed the opening league game against Limerick was down to a hamstring injury.
The Rathnure clubman, dropped nine days before their Leinster semi-final loss to Kilkenny last summer in a disciplinary move, was selected to start at full-forward in the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night.
Wexford selector Ger Cush dismissed rumours that his withdrawal was due to another disciplinary issue.
"Jack's part of the plans at the moment. He has a hamstring problem so we'll see how he is next week. At the moment, Jack is part of the plan,” said Cush after a demoralising 2-23 to 0-15 loss.
Shane Tompkins was drafted in to take Guiney’s place but Liam Dunne’s men were fighting a losing battle when they trailed by 0-16 to 0-4 at the break.
Guiney, heading into his fifth year at senior level at just 22 years of age, was Wexford’s top scorer in the league last season when he hit 2-26 in five games.
Dunne, under pressure to deliver this season in his fifth year in charge, recalled Guiney to the Wexford squad before Christmas and selector Cush said that the priority now was to assess the extent of his hamstring problem.
"We'll have to look at that along with a few other guys that are missing. We'll see how we are on Monday night,” added Cush, whose side host Clare next Sunday in a must-win clash if they are to keep their promotions hopes from Division 1B alive.