A cruel blow.

Leinster centre Tom Daly with miss the start of the season after picking up an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee.

The promising young centre picked up the injury in the pre-season friendly defeat to Perpignan last week, and head coach Leo Cullen confirmed today that the 24-year-old is set to undergo surgery.

Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are also currently sidelined, leaving Cullen short of options in the centre. Both are slated for return until around November.

Cullen has been boosted however, with the return of Irish internationals Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney, Jordi Murphy and Fergus McFadden. All four are in his squad to face Gloucester tomorrow night.