Luke McAlister has been cleared for New Zealand's end of year tour after receiving confirmation that his ankle injury is not serious.
North Harbour back available for squad following MRI scan
New Zealand back Luke McAlister has been cleared for the team's end-of-year tour after an MRI scan on his injured ankle confirmed the damage was not as severe as originally thought.
McAlister sustained the injury by standing on a cone during training with North Harbour, leaving the 26-year-old in doubt for the All Blacks' six-game tour which gets underway in Tokyo later this month.
It was later shown by X-rays, however, that no bones had been broken and a further MRI scan confirmed there was no structural damage.
McAlister will undergo a short rehabilitation and is ruled out of North Harbour's Air New Zealand Cup clash with Wellington this weekend, but should be available for the Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Japan at the end of the month.
Following the Wallabies game, the All Blacks will play Tests against Wales, Italy, England and France, before concluding their tour with a clash against the Barbarians.
Struggle
New Zealand coach Graham Henry, who will name his 33-strong line-up for the tour later this week, will welcome the news of McAlister's availability since centres Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava are already ruled out with shoulder and hip injuries respectively.
McAlister, who returned from a two-year stint with Sale Sharks earlier this year, has struggled to find form since being rushed straight back into the All Blacks.
He was plagued by back spasms before suffering a fractured cheekbone that required surgery in the Bledisloe Cup win against Wallabies in Sydney.
McAlister made his comeback from six weeks on the sidelines by scoring a try in North Harbour's 28-7 win against Bay of Plenty.
