He was originally put on crutches when he was taken off the pitch in that game and has been in a knee brace.

However, today before training at UCD, team manager Guy Easterby gave a much more optimistic overview on the injury and is confident McFadden will see some rugby before the season ends.

He said: “With Ferg, we had good news on him and we think he will be back before the end of the season, if we can guarantee ourselves a semi-final, I think he will definitely be back, touch wood, for around that period.”

Leinster are reporting no fresh injury worries from last weekend’s Rabo Direct Pro 12 loss to Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

They now switch their attention to welcoming Treviso to the RDS in the League.

Not for the first time this season there are concerns over the fitness of Luke Fitzgerald.

It has been a season plagued by groin and hip injuries for him, although he has played some rugby this year.

Easterby says it is too soon to say when Fitzgerald will be back playing again.

“We are managing him on a week-to-week basis, he’s come in and out different weeks,” said Easterby.

“We are just trying to manage those issues he has around his groin and hip, we would be hopeful he would be available this week but that won’t be determined till much later in the week.”

“He’s had a couple of long term injuries and the frustration is there of not getting a good run of games, there is no doubt that he would have been playing for Ireland this year with the form that he was on.”

“He’s a good professional so he will be working extra hard to try and overcome it and get a run of games again.”