Martin O'Neill hopeful over fitness of Robbie Keane & James McCarthy
Sunday 12 June 2016 13:48, UK
Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill is feeling 'more positive' that Robbie Keane and James McCarthy will be available for their Euro 2016 opener against Sweden.
Keane has been struggling with a calf injury but, like McCarthy (hamstring) was deemed likely to be available early in the tournament to be selected for O'Neill's final 23-man squad.
Both players took part in Ireland's training session in Versailles on Thursday and O'Neill, who gave his side Friday off as a recovery day, has his fingers crossed they will be able to play in Paris on Monday.
Speaking to FAI TV, O'Neill said: "Fingers crossed. It's looking more positive, let's say, than about six or seven days ago.
"Robbie himself said that he's a quick healer - he's doing fine at the moment - and I think there's been very little reaction to the training that James has done, so that's a very good sign."
That leaves Stoke forward Jonathan Walters as O'Neill's main injury concern as they prepare to take on Zlatan Ibrahamovic and company at the Stade de France.
Walters is struggling with an Achilles injury and O'Neill said he will not really know how his recovery is proceeding until Saturday.
He added: "We had a day off today. What we decided with the medical staff was we would try to keep as close to how the boys would be preparing, let's say, for club football and with Monday's game in mind, we'll train a couple of days beforehand.
"Although we climbed on the bus and went down to the training ground, it was really just a walk.
"The medical staff are saying just leave Jon Walters as he is at this minute and let's see how he is tomorrow just to see if there was any reaction from yesterday's training and the rest of the boys, I just think they have recovered reasonably well."
