McCarthy returns to Finch Farm

Lyndon Lloyd Sunday, 8 October, 2017 16comments | Jump to most recent

James McCarthy is back on Merseyside having been left out of the Republic of Ireland's squad to face Wales tomorrow evening.

The midfielder had been training with his national squad in the hope that he could prove his fitness for either or both of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and the Welsh but it appears as though he remains short of being ready.

McCarthy has yet to feature for club or country this season after suffering a knee injury in pre-season. That came in the wake of successive soft-tissue problems last season that severely disrupted his 2016-17 campaign.

The meeting between the two home nations is a big one, with qualification for Russia 2018 on the line. Wales could still win the group depending on how Serbia fare against Georgia while Ireland need to win to keep their hopes alive via the playoffs.

Ireland boss, Martin O'Neill, says that usual skipper Seamus Coleman will very much be in his players' thoughts in what is the reverse fixture to the one in which the Everton fullback suffered a double leg fracture in March.

"Seamus is also a top-class player. We've missed him now for a number of games so we've had our absentees in the past ourselves and we've had to cope and Wales have had to cope without Gareth Bale before.

"I don't know about revenge, but certainly I think the view among the players is that if Russia was available to us and we could make it there, I would think Seamus would be very much at the forefronts of our minds, anyway."

Reader Comments (16)

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Damian Wilde
2 Posted 09/10/2017 at 03:30:29

Bit harsh, Mark.

Neil Cremin
4 Posted 09/10/2017 at 07:07:33

Lyndon, outside your continual obsession with McCarthy and the Ireland squad. He is only one of the players being isolated by Koemann hence our very poor team spirit at least O Neill brought him into the squad just as he did Seamus to build team spirit. Maybe Koemann could learn a lesson or two. By the way please also get your facts right. "Wales (with a win or a draw) or Ireland (with a wind ) could still win the group depending on how Serbia fare against Georgia .

Chris Gould
5 Posted 09/10/2017 at 11:50:13

Neil, what's with the attitude?
It's the international break and Lyndon is reporting on one of our players who was away on international duty.

Also, whether he plays or not is of interest to most of us who are hoping that he can make a successful recovery from his injuries.

I disagree that he has been isolated by Koeman. I think Koeman rates him and has been frustrated by his run of injuries. Hence his previous outbursts regarding ROI's handling of McCarthy's situation.

Lastly, I doubt 'wind' will be a factor in Ireland's hopes of winning the group, but stranger things have happened.

Frank Wade
6 Posted 09/10/2017 at 12:30:16

Appreciate your postings Lyndon on McCarthy and all Everton related International team news. There was also the bad news that the O'Neill/Keane management team are getting a contract extension to 2020.

Shane Corcoran
7 Posted 09/10/2017 at 18:33:26

Yes Lyndon, please do keep posting such items.

Gordon Roberts
8 Posted 09/10/2017 at 20:26:53

Lyndon,

Keep providing us with well written articles and updates. As has been mentioned above, Koeman rates McCarthy and has been critical of Martin O'Neill for starting him when not fully match fit.

Neil Cremin
9 Posted 09/10/2017 at 20:45:35

Chris,

What attitude? Every post by Lyndon on McCarthy has been more than just news and has lead to vilification of what I believe is a player whose talents we badly need.

As for Koeman, do you really believe that Koeman is getting the best out of the players at his disposal? I believe he has lost the dressing room by his public criticism of his own players hence no spirit in the team.

Sorry for the typo – bad autocorrect on my tablet but did feel need to correct the facts. Nil satis nisi optimum.

Neil Cremin
10 Posted 09/10/2017 at 21:57:46

Chris,

So I make myself clear: Mirallas, Barkley, Niasse are others that come to mind who have been isolated by Koeman and I have been embarrassed at some of the threads vilifying these players.

We are the People's Club and we are family. We shouldn't allow an uncommitted manager to let us turn on our own.

Frank Wade
11 Posted 09/10/2017 at 22:01:05

Ireland into the play-off so another chance for James McCarthy to prove his fitness for Everton by playing for Ireland, if fit to do so.

O'Neill showing his usual bad manners by cutting short an interview by Irish TV with himself and goal scorer McClean.

Irish goal came from an all too familiar Ashley Williams brain freeze, losing a ball that was rolled to him in space by their keeper.

Brian Hennessy
12 Posted 09/10/2017 at 22:12:06

To think we sold Shane Duffy and are left with Ashley Williams. No prizes for which was the better defender in tonight's game.

Always knew the boys in green had a chance with Williams playing against us

Peter Gorman
13 Posted 09/10/2017 at 22:30:18

Well done, Ireland!

I hope Seamus makes the tournament.

Gerry Ring
14 Posted 10/10/2017 at 07:27:32

Hopefully Macca returns to 1st team football soon. We definitely need him.

As for Shane Duffy, I could never understand why we sold him. A little raw & impulsive like Richard Dunne in the early days but I believe playing alongside Jags would have been sufficient to address that.

Oliver Molloy
15 Posted 10/10/2017 at 14:31:59

Shane Duffy may be playing better than who we have right now, but he's not good enough for Everton. Players like Shane are all over the place and usually carve out a decent career for themselves by doing the basics in defending well.

I'm over the moon to see the above happening to Shane, don't forget this young man nearly died not so long ago.

Moyes once fined Duffy 𧶀 for eating Mars bars! He's also a good buddy of Barkley. He will be up for playing well against us come this weekend.

Dave Abrahams
16 Posted 10/10/2017 at 14:48:13

I think Martin O'Neill had second thoughts about risking James McCarthy in a match that would need plenty of harassing, pressing and loads of running by all of his players, so let him go home early and build some bridges with Koeman and Everton for the future.

Shane Corcoran
17 Posted 10/10/2017 at 15:50:29

O'Neill isn't ruling Coleman out of the playoffs, although he is playing down his chances.

Now that would be fun on ToffeeWeb.

Oliver Molloy
18 Posted 10/10/2017 at 18:19:30

O'Neill does talk some shite, Shane!

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