Saturday 26 March 2016 17:49, UK
Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle has confirmed he suffered no lasting damage after undergoing surgery to repair an horrific gash to his leg.
The 32-year-old Colorado Rapids striker was carried from the pitch on a stretcher during Friday night's 1-0 friendly victory over Switzerland after going down in agony following a challenge by Norwich defender Timm Klose.
Doyle later tweeted a graphic photograph of the injury as he prepared to undergo a procedure to clean and stitch the wound at Dublin's Mater Hospital.
But on Saturday morning he revealed he will be able to resume start running once again within a matter of weeks.
Doyle tweeted: "Thanks to the plastic surgeons at the Mater Hospital, leg looks brand new, no serious damage, back jogging in a few weeks."
The injury could hardly have come at a worse time for former Cork City striker, who was starting his first game for Ireland since a 2-0 friendly victory over Oman 18 months ago.
He now has 62 caps and has scored 14 goals, but will miss Tuesday night's friendly against Slovakia and another chance to stake a claim for a place in Martin O'Neill's squad for the Euro 2016 finals.
Jonathan Walters and Daryl Murphy have also returned to Stoke and Ipswich respectively for assessment and management of injuries; the former did not feature against the Swiss, while Murphy was substituted 10 minutes from the end having replaced Doyle in the first half.
