Jon Walters should still be fit for Euro 2016, let's get that out of the way first. However according to reports this morning, it's quite possible that he could be heading into the tournament without having played a game for Stoke between now and the end of the season.
Philip Quinn has the exclusive in the Irish Daily Mail today that Walters faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines after it was discovered that a cartilage problem in his knee will likely require surgery, something that is far from ideal in terms of Martin O'Neill's plans for Euro 2016.
That news has yet to be confirmed, but speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Quinn gave an update on the situation with Mark Hughes set to confirm later today whether or not Walters' situation is as bad as is now feared.
Walters withdrew from the recent squad to face Switzerland and Slovakia with what was initially diagnosed as tendonitis. It had been thought that he'd return for the second of those games but that proved to be wishful thinking and now it would appear that Walters trouble could be worse still.
If the operation is indeed needed then you'd have to think it's good news he's going under the knife now to give him sufficient time to recover in time for the trip to France. Having said that however, it's far from ideal situation if Walters can't play again for Stoke this season with those final two warm up games against the Netherlands and Belarus looking particularly crucial to ensure Walters is fighting fit ahead of the game against Sweden on June 13th.
