If Ireland are to navigte the challenge of Sweden, Italy and Belgium, it is going to be vital we keep our influential forwards fit. Compare Ireland's paucity of striking options with Belgium, whose graphics team went all-out in the attackers department:
Belgium squad for the Euros with squad numbers. pic.twitter.com/qLNacX8mga
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) May 31, 2016
Absoultey delighted to be named in the 23 man squad for France. Cannot wait now thanks for all the messages #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/Ml9X8ONuxB
— Shane Duffy (@shaneduffy) June 1, 2016
One of the men we need fit is Jon Walters: arguably Ireland's most important player throughout qualifying. Walters had knee surgery seven weeks ago, playing very little football with Stoke at the end of the season. Walters then ssent us all spiralling into panic by suffering a calf injury during training in Cork. Walters issued a positive update to the FAI today, however, discussing the injury in the short-term, expercting to be back in training by Monday:
I had an operation on my knee seven weeks ago and when you come back you have secondary things. I had a little bit on tendinitis in both achilles and on the training ground it flares up a little, you just have to settle it down."
You don't want to push through it and then go into next week, the week leading up to the game pushing yourself through it. If you have a chance, settle it down, which we did."
I have just been working in the gym the past couple of days, pretty tough and looking to go ahead again on Monday.
Watch the full video below:
