Ireland: Leinster say Sexton and Furlong will be fit for start of Six Nations

Tadgh Furlong and Johnny Sexton are on the road back to fitness

Leinster say that Ireland stars Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong are expected to be fit for the start of this season's Six Nations Championship.

Sexton suffered a cheekbone injury in Leinster's game against Connacht on 1 January while Furlong has been out for more than a month with an ankle issue.

Both will miss Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup game against Gloucester.

But a Leinster statement said Sexton and Furlong are "expected to be back ahead of the Six Nations".

Ireland, the number one-ranked team in the world, visit Wales for their Six Nations opener on 4 February before taking on France in Dublin seven days later in a game that some feel could be a title decider, even though it will only be round two of the competition.

Sexton, 37, missed two of Ireland's three Autumn Nations Series Tests this season because of injury and had to undergo a procedure last week on the cheekbone damage he sustained in the Connacht game on New Year's Day.

The veteran fly-half has won 109 Ireland caps.

Leinster say British and Irish Lions prop Furlong has recovered from his ankle problem but suffered "a minor setback" in training last week when he picked up an unrelated calf injury.

The Irish province conclude their Champions Cup pool programme by hosting Racing 92 on 21 January and then face Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship the week before the start of the Six Nations.

Like Furlong and Sexton, back Charlie Ngatai will miss Leinster's game against Gloucester after he suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's win over Ospreys.