Fitzgerald has not played for Ireland for almost a year because of injury

Luke Fitzgerald has been added to the Ireland squad for the forthcoming autumn internationals after recovering sufficiently from a hip injury.

Irish coach Declan Kidney had indicated that Leinster back Fitzgerald would be added to the original 34-man panel if he overcame the injury problem.

Connacht prop Brett Wilkinson has also been included as front row cover after Marcus Horan was ruled out by injury.

The Ireland squad met up in Limerick on Monday for a week-long training camp.

The squad will transfer to Dublin next week ahead of their Test against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 6 November.

Horan injured his hand during training last week and will miss all four autumn games.

Jerry Flannery is suffering from a calf problem that has limited him to just one Munster appearance this season and has not sufficiently recovered to allow him to join up with the squad as yet.

Fitzgerald missed all of this year's Six Nations after sustaining knee ligament damage in the draw against Australia last November.

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