The 27-year-old picked up a shoulder injury on the summer tour to New Zealand and Australia.

''I need to get the situation clarified and I have gone to the best medical people in the business - people who have dealt with Brian ODriscoll, David Wallace and Mike Prendergast,'' he told the IRFUs official website.

''It is a worrying time, I'm not sure what the damage is but it is not right.''

While the exact nature of Flannery's injury is yet to be confirmed, Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll was back playing six months after dislocating his shoulder during last year's Lions tour.

Ironically for Flannery it was a neck injury to Frankie Sheahan that gave him the chance to assume the mantle of first choice hooker with both Munster and Ireland last season.

Sheahan, who is currently on honeymoon, will be on the comeback trail once he returns.

''I think there is an opportunity for people to make their claim,'' Flannery added.

''We all have to take our chances with injury. So we sit down, we look at a situation and when we have a problem we take it from there.''