STOKE MANAGER MARK Hughes has moved to downplay the severity of Jon Walters’ injury setback but was reluctant to speculate whether the striker would return before the end of the season.

The Ireland international underwent knee surgery on Wednesday to rectify a cartilage problem he sustained in Stoke’s last game against Watford and is facing a race against time to be fit for Euro 2016.

Walters missed both of Ireland’s recent friendlies and was forced to go under the knife earlier in the week.

He was originally expected to be out for between four and six weeks but Hughes remains hopeful the 32-year-old could return within a month.

“With regards to Jon the operation is one that has taken us aback a little bit,” Hughes said this afternoon. “He went for a scan and it has shown he has a tear in his knee cartilage.

“He has had it before and he was back in three weeks. It might not be so quick this time, but it was something that needed to be done.

“He will be back strong, and maybe he will be back before the end of the season. We hope he has no setbacks, and we don’t envisage there being any.”

Walters’ untimely injury will give Ireland boss Martin O’Neill further cause for concern with all five strikers who were in the squad for the double-header against Switzerland and Slovakia now injured.

Kevin Doyle (deep laceration) and Robbie Keane (knee) have both undergone surgery to rectify their respective injuries while Daryl Murphy (calf) and Shane Long (patella tendon) have returned to their clubs nursing knocks.

Meanwhile, Hughes also revealed Glenn Whelan is a doubt for Stoke’s clash with Swansea tomorrow after missing training on Friday.

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