Jonathan Walters Republic of IrelandGetty Images

O'Neill handed Walters & Keane boost ahead of Sweden game

Jonathan Walters and Robbie Keane are expected to re-join Republic of Ireland training on Monday after sitting out a number of sessions due to Achilles and calf problems respectively.

Stoke City striker Walters was included in Martin O'Neill's final 23-man squad for Euro 2016 but was forced to withdraw from general training last week after feeling "a little tenderness" in his Achilles.

However, having carried out work separately with the Football Association of Ireland staff, the 32-year-old is confident that he will be ready to train in the week ahead of Ireland's Group E opener against Sweden. 

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"I had an operation on my knee about seven weeks ago and when you come back you tend to have secondary little things," Walters told FAI TV

"I had a little tenderness in both Achilles [tendons], a bit of tendonitis, and out on the training ground it flares up a little bit and you've just got to settle it down.

"You don't want to push through [the pain] and go into the week leading up to the game. So I've just been working in the gym for a couple of days - pretty tough - and I'm looking forward to training again on Monday."

Keane, meanwhile, is on the road to recovery after sustaining a calf strain ahead of Ireland's friendly defeat to Belarus.

O'Neill had indicated that there was a doubt as to whether the LA Galaxy striker would be fit enough to feature against Sweden on June 13, but the latest news will come as a boost.

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