Sale Sharks cautiously opimistic about 'Superman' Tom Curry return date

Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson hopes that England star Tom Curry could be fit for their make-or-break Champions Cup clash with Harlequins in early April.

Curry, 27, hasn’t been out of action since damaging his calf in the pre-match warm-up before England’s defeat to Italy as his side worked on driving mauls just minutes before kick-off at the Stadio Olympico.

The back rower has been a mainstay for Steve Borthwick, appearing in 15 of England’s last 20 Tests, missing the last two through injury, and the summer tour of Argentina and the United States because he was selected by the Lions.

Curry, who missed the start of the season after having an operation on a long-standing wrist ligament injury, won’t play at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday or in the visit of Bath to the North-West on Sunday week, but could be fit for Quins.

“He’s pulled a calf. It’s grade 3, and we’re open for Europe. But with these things and Tom being superhuman, the usual kind of lay-off times and return to play times are extensively diminished because of his character and physique,” said Sanderson.

“Let’s see how it goes. regards to that competition; the average time it takes for a human being who isn’t as physically fit, who hasn’t got all the 24-hour round-the-clock physical treatment, oxygen tents, and all that kind of stuff.

“So, all of that kind of speeds the process up, as well as Tom’s commitment to his ability to get fit again. You know, Europe would be the best thing that could ever happen to us.

“But with these things, there’s the best solution or timeframe, which I’m giving to you. And there’s probably the worst.
And what these injuries have made Tom is more resilient, to come back and to come back better, come back fitter.”

Meanwhile, Sharks tighthead Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who missed the Six Nations with a shoulder injury and hasn’t played since November because of an elbow problem, will be cleared to start full-training next week.

“He is live scrummaging and banging people around. All his contacts are controlled, but he’s ahead of schedule. He’s seen the specialist on Thursday, and the specialist will give them the all-clear to start full training next week,” added Sanderson.

“That’d be full training. So, whether or not we’re playing him next week or we get a full week under his belt, that’ll be on the discretion of the medical team and the S&C team.”