MARTY MOORE HAS undergone surgery on a broken metatarsal in his foot. His recovery is expected to take between four and eight weeks.

The tighthead prop has endured a difficult year with injuries, having had a shoulder operation last October and then another procedure after dislocating his other shoulder in Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon in April.

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The latter injury had seen Moore under pressure to return to full fitness ahead of the World Cup, but disaster struck when the tighthead began to experience pain in his foot in the last fortnight.

Rather than immediately operate on the metatarsal issue, it was decided Moore would wear a protective moon boot, the hope being that he would heal in time to feature in Ireland’s clash against Wales last weekend or in Leinster’s pre-season tie with Moseley last Friday.

Ultimately, Moore was unable to play in either game despite taking part in full training last week at Carton House. Only once Joe Schmidt had selected his final 31-man squad for the World Cup, with Moore omitted, was it decided that surgery was the best course of action.

We’re hoping that the recovery will be four weeks, but it could be eight,” said Moore’s agent, Niall Woods of Navy Blue

Leinster will be understandably keen to get Moore back in action as soon as possible, though their emphasis will be on ensuring that the tighthead is not rushed in his return to playing.

After the frustration of the summer months, Moore himself will be desperate to get fully fit again and show the form that has brought him 10 international caps and two Six Nations medals.

Moore trained with Ireland last Thursday. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO

Tadhg Furlong and Nathan White proved to be the men chosen as back-up to Mike Ross for the upcoming World Cup, with Furlong also being asked to cover the loosehead side of Ireland’s scrum too.