Ireland manager Martin O’Neill remains hopeful that captain Robbie Keane will return to full fitness before the end of the week and revealed that assistant Roy Keane spoke to Aiden McGeady following his strong criticism last week.
The LA Galaxy striker took part in today’s light session at Abbotstown with the aid of leg strapping, while Walters and Robbie Brady were onlookers as the squad continues to build to next week's European Championship opener against Sweden.
Ireland get their Group E campaign underway at the Stade de France on 13 June and O’Neill gave a medical update before Wednesday’s departure and admitted that while Keane is on the mend, Stoke City's Walters is unlikely to train again until the squad reaches France because of an Achilles strain.
“Robbie Keane did a little bit of work today, he’s improving by the day which is good news,” O'Neill said.
“He might be able to join in at the end of the week [full contact training]”
“Jon Walters has had a bit of a problem in the last few days. He’s feeling a good deal better.
“He didn’t participate in training today and probably won’t tomorrow. We’ll see what he’s like when we get to France.”
Brady was forced to miss training with a back spasm suffered at the weekend, but O'Neill is satisfied with his progress.
Midfielder James McCarthy also returned to training after he missed both warm-up friendlies with a thigh injury and O’Neill is hopeful he will be fit for selection against the Swedes.
Robbie Keane is taking a full part in training today at FAI HQ. Heavily strapped left leg. #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/ECNLUZX7sU
— Ed Leahy (@Ed_Leahy) June 6, 2016
“He’s still taking it a wee bit easier than the others.”
O’Neill revealed that assistant manager Roy Keane spoke to McGeady face-to-face following his withering assessment of Ireland's performance in their 2-1 defeat by Belarus at Turner's Cross last Tuesday evening.
Keane said at one point he wanted to "kill" some of the players, while winger McGeady came in for particular criticism for a lacklustre display.
"Roy's already had a word with him. Roy's words were slightly on the strong side. Any pieces of criticism the players get from Roy or myself they take on board or dismiss it accordingly.
"The reaction of the players, I have to say, has been very strong. If the Belarus game was a bit of blip with some of the players being a bit rusty, then that's absolutely fine.
"It was a godsend to have that game because some of the players hadn't played much football and needed it."
O’Neill also apologised for remarks he made at a fans’ event in Cork Opera House last week.
The Ireland manager was asked a question about a recent trip to the Super Bowl to celebrate Ireland’s qualification for the European Championships.
Asked if he and Keane had enjoyed the trip to the showpiece sporting event in California, O’Neill responded that he and Keane weren’t “queer” and had been accompanied by two other members of his backroom staff, Steve Guppy and Steve Walford.
“I was going to address this," he told the assembled media.
“If I have made inappropriate comments in the Opera House in Cork, I obviously apologise for it and I will attempt for the rest of my time here not to make such inappropriate comments.”
