Marcus Horan has been ruled out of the autumn series

Ireland prop Marcus Horan has been ruled out of the autumn international series with a broken hand.

Horan sustained the injury during gym work on Monday and is expected to be out for four to six weeks.

The loosehead prop will miss the matches against South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney may draft in another loosehead as Cian Healy is the only specialist in that position left in the 34-man group.

John Hayes, Tony Buckley and Mike Ross will compete for the tighthead shirt while Ulster's Tom Court can play on either side of the scrum.

Meanwhile, Horan's Munster and Ireland front row colleague Jerry Flannery will travel to Liverpool on Friday for further specialist examination of his calf injury.

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