Dimitri Szarzewski and Remy Martin are set to give France head coach Bernard Laporte a boost by returning to training next week.
The Stade Francais pair, who could be named in Laporte’s 40-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Thursday, have not played since suffering injuries during France’s 26-25 victory over Argentina in November.
Hooker Szarzewski hurt his knee just five minutes after coming on as a substitute against the Pumas, while Martin, a flanker, dislocated his left thumb in the same game.
Both players should be back in training at the start of next week, but the crunch Heineken Cup clash with The Ospreys on January 14 could come too soon for them.
They should nevertheless be ready for France’s first game of the Six Nations, against Italy in Rome on February 3.
