McCloskey and Timoney return to Ulster training

Ireland duo Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney have returned to training with Ulster ahead of Saturday's United Rugby Championship match against Zebre (19:45 GMT). Fresh off the back of helping Ireland lift the Triple Crown, neither McCloskey nor Timoney were involved in Richie Murphy's squad who were defeated by Connacht last weekend. David Shanahan and James Hume, who both missed the 19-26 loss through concussions, are now fit for selection.

Charlie Irvine (lower leg), Sam Crean (knee), Jack Murphy (ribs) and Scott Wilson (shoulder) will continue to have their fitness assessed before the match in Parma. However, the side will be without Cormac Izuchukwu (concussion), James McNabney (knee), Stewart Moore (knee), Jude Postlethwaite (hand), Robert Baloucoune (elbow), Rory McGuire (shoulder) and Jake Flannery (shoulder). Ulster sit third in the table and will aim to return to winning ways when they travel to face the side bottom of the URC.

Zebre have lost their past four fixtures and currently have 12 points.