Ulster and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris could be back in action by mid-February

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris could yet play a part in this season's RBS Six Nations Championship after making good progress following ankle surgery.

Anscombe also sounded a note of caution when quizzed about the fitness of Ferris' Ireland and Ulster team-mate Tommy Bowe who recently underwent knee surgery. The Ulster supremo played down suggestions that the winger could be back in time to face Saracens in the Heineken Cup quarter-final in early April. "That would be pushing it," said the Ulster coach. "We've got to be very careful with such a serious injury that he had. We don't want to be rushing it. We've got to look at the longer-term effects of where it's at."