Robbie Keane showed off his hurling skills during today's training session in Cork. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND captain Robbie Keane insists he’ll “definitely” be ready to play in the team’s second Euro 2016 game against Belgium in Bordeaux on 18 June.

However, Keane says he’s still hopeful of also featuring in the tournament opener against Sweden in Paris five days earlier as he recovers from a calf injury.

Despite sustaining the injury last Saturday, the LA Galaxy striker has been named in a 23-man Irish squad for the European Championships in France.

“Listen, it’s never nice when you get injured, but certainly at this stage because of the European Championships. But luckily for me, it’s not as bad as I first thought,” Keane told FAI TV today as the squad continue their preparations at Fota Island in Cork.

“I thought it was going to be a lot longer. They are saying a couple of weeks, which would obviously get me [fit] for the Sweden game, or maybe if I miss that one, I’ll definitely be ready for the second game, so it’s bad news, but it could have been a lot worse.”

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