Tyrone fans itching to see Peter Canavan back in action may have to be patient. The All-Ireland winning captain is back in full training with the squad, but is unlikely to be ready for the Ulster Championship opener against Down on May 22.
Canavan sensationally withdrew from the panel last February, citing unhappiness with his levels of fitness as the reason. And weeks of speculation were ended immediately after Tyrone's National Football League semi-final defeat to Wexford last month when manager Mickey Harte revealed that the former All Star attacker was ready to return.
But his efforts to attain peak fitness have been hampered by a hamstring injury and a bout of flu. And Harte has admitted that the double setback will affect Canavan's personal schedule and target.
"It doesn't help his personal situation. He wants to be fully fit, he wants to be able to give all that he can, and anybody having a hamstring setback or a flu setback is going to be the weaker for it," said Harte.
"Special as he is, Peter can't cope with that any better than anybody else."
Yesterday, it emerged that Tyrone could be without their captain, Brian Dooher, the clash against Down in Omagh. Dooher is receiving intensive physio on an ankle injury, which he picked up in a club game at the weekend.
Full back Chris Lawn is also a concern with a leg injury, while Brian McGuigan, currently overseas, is not expected to feature against the Mourne men.
