It is unclear when Springbok centre Damian de Allende will return from injury as Munster have confirmed he is doubtful for the European Champions Cup playoffs in April.

While De Allende anchored the Munster backline after moving to Limerick in 2020, he has been out of action since 1 January due to a core muscle injury.

According to defence coach JP Ferreira, there’s still no definitive timeline on the midfielder’s recovery. There’s also growing expectation that De Allende will not be fit in time for their crucial Champions Cup round-of-16 ties against Exeter on 9 and 16 April.

“Damian is busy rehabbing and getting that hip flexor and groin right, so there’s also no timeline on him,” Ferreira told the Irish Examiner.

“It’s pretty much up to the medics to say how long but they assess him every day and every week, and we just get updates on how he’s tracking with his rehabbing. So, in the near future, I can’t say he’ll be available for whatever game. It’s just how good he’s going to rehab and get himself right.

“We’ll do everything in our ability to get him back as soon as we can. So, yeah, let’s hope, fingers crossed, that he gets his rehab done and he can get on training with us as soon as he can.”

The hard-running inside centre was a key component of  South Africa’s success against the British & Irish Lions and the All Blacks in 2021 and his extended absence will be of concern to Bok coach Jacques Nienaber as he plans to welcome Wales for a three-Test series in July.

De Allende’s contract with Munster runs out at the end of the current European season and it’s highly likely that he will not sign an extension. According to reports, the Wild Knights in Japan are vying with English club Bath for his signature.