IRELAND wing Simon Geoghegan, who was due to make his comeback appearance for the Bath seconds, Bath United, against Bristol seconds on Saturday after being out of the game all season following operations to rectify problems with his big toes, has had to delay his return.

Geoghegan has been ruled out by a calf muscle strain but he hopes to play for Bath United on Saturday week. "I have spoken to Simon and while he had intended to play next Saturday, he has now decided to wait another week because of his muscle strain," said Ireland manager Pat Whelan yesterday.

Geoghegan won the last of his 37 caps in the final match of the International Championship against England last March. He missed the peace international against the Barbarians in May and underwent the operations at the end of the summer. He attended the first of the Ireland training sessions in Limerick early in the season but had to return to London before the session ended because of the problem with his toes. The recovery period from the operations has proved to be longer than initially hoped.

Meanwhile a decision on the fitness of flanker David Corkery for the match against England will rest with the Irish team doctor Mick Molloy.

Corkery cracked a bone in the third finger of his right hand in the game against Wales last Saturday. Corkery, who plays with Bristol, had the finger examined and x-rayed in Bristol and it was confirmed that there is a crack in the bone. He sent the x-rays to Molloy yesterday.

But Corkery is retaining some hope he will be fit for the England match. He said yesterday: "The bone is cracked but the good things is that the finger joints are not in any way damaged or giving me trouble and that gives me some hope.

"I have 10 days to recover and I would see my chances as about 50-50. But in reality the decision will not be mine. I will follow whatever instructions Mick Molloy gives me - the decision is really his and not mine."

Corkery's Bristol team-mate, Ireland outside-half Paul Burke, has recovered from the knee injury that forced him to withdraw from the panel of replacements for the match against France. With the Bristol first team not engaged in a match on Saturday, Burke will play for the second xv against Bath United.