James McCarthy is looking forward to burying his ‘international u-turn’ rumour once and for all.
The Wigan midfielder has never wavered in his commitment to representing Ireland but since the arrival of Gary Caldwell at the DW Stadium there have been regular suggestions that he wanted to play for Scotland.
After being rejected by Archie Knox for the Scotland u-16 side McCarthy was welcomed with open arms into the Irish set up and has represented the boys in green at all levels.
A year ago he made his full international debut against Brazil in London but Saturday’s match against Macedonia will be his first competitive appearance for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side.
“There was talk here and there but as far I seen it, it was just the press jumping on stuff and nothing came of it,” the midfielder said. “Nothing had changed for me.
“I pulled out of the (Wales) game because of my ankle. I was only back from the rehabilitation and wanted to look after myself, as did the club.
“The main thing is to try get some game-time for Ireland and put it all to bed.”
McCarthy joins the illustrious list of Ray Houghton, Bernie Slaven, Owen Coyle, Tommy Coyne and Aiden McGeady to have opted to play for Ireland although they were born in the Glasgow area.
Three points on Saturday against Macedonia are essential for Ireland’s qualification hopes after losing 3-2 at home to Russia before drawing 1-1 away with Slovakia.
“Every qualifying game is a tough game,” McGeady said. “If you just look at the table that we’re in, we’ve got Russia, who are top just now by two points, there’s ourselves, Armenia, who are unexpectedly up there, and Slovakia as well so it’s a very, very tight group.
“Macedonia are still going to be a tough game but every qualifying game is and it’s important for us to start well after the two bad results we had against Russia and Slovakia. We really have to build on this bit of luck we’ve got. Results went our way and it has put us in a good position in the table and we’ve got to build on that now.
“They (the Russians) are probably the team most expected to go through and they probably have the strongest squad I’d say out of anyone. I’d imagine everyone expects them to go through but it’s down to us to make sure that we do.”
TICKETS FOR SUNDAY’S RAITH V CELTIC MATCH FOR RONNIE COYLE CAN BE BOUGHT UPTO 3PM KICK-OFF TIME FROM STARKS PARK .
RONNIE COYLE TESTIMONIAL WEBSITE.
Paul George is the Irish hero.
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
[bet_365 type=’generic’ size=’468′ af_code=’365_050711′]
when did McCarthy play for Celtic?
It saddens me to hear Celtic supporters talking this way. Be proud of your Irish connections, just as I am. But you were born in Scotland, get used to it, be Scottish, show the “Famine Song” choir that although we are very proud of our Irish connections, we are better Scots than they’ll ever be. If you want your children to have a better life, that’s the only way forward.
I’m also sure the writer of this article could come up with a list of much more illustrious players, born in Glasgow, with Irish connectios, who played proudly in dark blue.
Remember him coming on trial with Celtic’s u15s, never taken on, coach was Joe McBride, midfield contained James Forrest, Greg Wylde,Michael O Halaron ( Now with Bolton 1st team) and Grant Gallagher, so was up aganist some very good young players, who had been at Celtic for some time.
You would have hoped the coaches would have seem something, as he was playing 1st team football for Accies later on that season, and he was a really big Celtic fan.
just shows some coaches wont know a player,
even Greg Wylde played,