HOPES are high that Tiernan McCann will return for Tyrone’s Ulster Championship quarter-final against Monaghan on May 20, but it’s feared that Colm Cavanagh is set for a longer spell on the treatment table.

Killyclogher star McCann is back doing light training after damaging his knee in the closing stages of Tyrone’s win over Kildare in mid-February, with an MRI scan later confirming that he had suffered a crack in his kneecap.

The half-back was ruled out for two months and is understood to be making good progress, although it’s too early to say for definite that he will be back in time for Tyrone’s championship opener.

It’s been a frustrating period for McCann considering he also suffered a hand injury in Tyrone’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin. He underwent an operation days later to correct a broken metacarpal bone which involved inserting three metal screws, which left him out of work for a lengthy spell.

His latest injury has also curtailed his involvement with Killyclogher in the early part of the season, and Dominic Corrigan revealed after their latest league win against Donaghmore that the chances were “slim” that he’d line out in club colours before the start of the Ulster Championship.

Meanwhile, All-Star midfielder Colm Cavanagh won’t be rushed back after sustaining a quad injury prior to Tyrone’s final league match against Kerry on March 25.

The Moy man is still some distance away from full fitness and his potential absence would be considerable blow to Tyrone ahead of their date with Monaghan.