Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton making 'good progress' on his comeback from knee injury

Leinster senior coach Stuart Lancaster has revealed that Ireland international Johnny Sexton is making 'good progress' on his comeback from a knee injury.

Sexton suffered the injury during the Heineken Champions cup game against Northampton Saints at Aviva Stadium in December and has been on the sidelines since then.

Lancaster has already confirmed that the 34-year-old has been ruled out of the Heineken Champions Cup game against Lyon on Sunday and is also a doubtful starter for the game against Benetton on 18th January which keeps him out of any competitive game before Ireland's Six Nations campaign that kicks-off on 1st February.

“He’s making good progress, but that would be a tremendous turnaround from a MCL injury,” said Lancaster on the chances of Sexton featuring for the game against Benetton.

“It’s not an injury that you suddenly go from being not injured to fit again in two or three weeks. It takes time to strengthen the ligament, to start running again and everything that goes into being back fit again and playing a robust game like rugby.

"So it’s going to take some time but he has made some good progress and everyone’s optimistic about how he’s going to go over the next couple of weeks.”