Martin O’Neill’s assessment of Jon Walters’ Achilles problem is not massively reassuring

"All fine, all good."

The words of Jon Walters as he left training at Stade de Montbauron in Versailles on Thursday afternoon. The Stoke and Republic of Ireland attacker was the only member of the 23-strong playing party not to take a full part in the open training session that marked the beginning of Ireland's French odyssey. The 32-year-old, who top scored for Ireland in qualifying, trained instead with the strength and conditioning coach Dan Horan. Walters last trained with the squad over a week ago, on the day after the 2-1 defeat to Belarus in Cork, when he strained his Achilles in Fota Island. Following on from Walters' own bright and breezy four-word prognosis, Martin O'Neill tried to assuage fears by saying the attacker was "improving". "Jon Walters trained on his own, or with Dan, and he is improving. Everybody else seems to be good," said the Ireland manager, whose response to a direct question on whether or not Walters would be fit to face Sweden in Stade de France on Monday was not massively reassuring.

“He has a few days yet and he’s improving."

There are certain players from the starting team that Ireland could make do without and then there is Jon Walters. Light a candle.