Kolkata upbeat about Lynn injury

Hopes raised Lynn may return during IPL season after scans reveal damage to left shoulder 'not as bad as we thought'

Big-hitting batsman Chris Lynn's shoulder injury may not be as bad as first feared and he could yet still feature in the current IPL season.

Lynn injured his left shoulder diving in the outfield during the Kolkata Knight Riders' four-wicket defeat to the Mumbai Indians last week.

There were fears the latest shoulder setback could derail his IPL season. But Lynn is understood to be remaining with the franchise in India and KKR coach Jaques Kallis said MRI scans had revealed the prognosis was better than expected.

"He has gone for his scan. It's not as bad as we thought," Kallis told reporters at Eden Gardens ahead of the Knight Riders' clash with King's XI Punjab.

"Our medical staff is working overtime to see how quickly we can get him ready and if we can get him ready.

"There is a good chance we will play a role for us this season."

The former South Africa allrounder said despite the positive scan results, there was no timeframe for Lynn's return.

"It's still too early to assess. We are not going to rush him," Kallis said.

"When he feels he is ready to play, the medical staff will qualify when there is a possibility of him playing, we will certainly play him when we can."

The news is a boost for Australia's Champions Trophy hopes, with Lynn's explosive hitting potential making him a near-certain squad selection for the mid-year tournament in the UK.

Lynn has an unfortunate history of shoulder problems that continued with the injury against Mumbai.

Lynn had missed the first half of the 2016-17 season after dislocating the same shoulder in Sri Lanka last year, while his recent KFC Big Bash League campaign was cut short due to a neck problem. He also missed the 2015 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup after dislocating his left shoulder.

He had surgery on the same shoulder in the winter of 2014, forcing him to miss the start of the 2014-15 season.

Lynn lamented his injury woes on social media after the match.