Jonathan Walters confident of making Euros after operation

Republic of Ireland forward Jonathan Walters is confident of being fit for this summer's European Championships in France after undergoing a knee cartilage operation on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Stoke player missed the two friendly internationals against Switzerland and Slovakia, but is confident that he will make it back in time for the start of the competition in June.

Ireland are next in action on May 27th when they take on the Netherlands in a friendly international.

Walters, who was recently named as the FAI Senior International Player of the Year, tweeted that the surgery “went well”.

He was the second Irish forward to receive hospital treatment this week after Kevin Doyle ended up in the Mater Hospital in Dublin after suffering a deep cut to a leg during the game against Switzerland.

Ireland manager Martin O'Neill saw his forward resources reduced to the bare bones for the game against Slovakia, with James McClean pushed into a more advanced position alongside Shane Long. Cardiff City's Anthony Pilkington also saw action in the 2-2 draw on Tuesday night.