Seasons2017-18Everton News
McCarthy to be called up by Ireland
Monday, 14 August, 2017
The midfielder has missed part of pre-season and all three of the Blues competitive games so far with a knee injury but had returned to training last week.
O'Neill's decision to include McCarthy in his squad despite him not being match fit is similar to a number of previous occasions on which the player has broken down again in training or on the pitch for his country and has been the cause of severe friction between the Irish manager and Ronald Koeman.
With the first World Cup qualifier not until the start of next month, on this occasion O'Neill might be banking on McCarthy, who has battled to remain consistently fit in recent seasons, being fit in time to play.