Liam Brady and Martin O’Neill have clashed over the commitment of James McCarthy ahead of Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Poland tomorrow.
The Everton midfielder has been hampered by hamstring problems for some time with O’Neill having to tread carefully with Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady and Darron Gibson also on the Goodison payroll.
After overlooking the schoolboy McCarthy, Scotland made various attempts to capture the midfielder but after declaring for Ireland at u-16 level the midfielder stuck to his guns to make his competitive debut in a green shirt.
Brady was in Giovanni Trapattoni’s backroom squad that gave McCarthy his big break but in a newspaper column this morning question whether the Everton made is fully committed at international level.
“I think the jury is still out about his importance to the Irish team,” Brady stated. “Without doubt, McCarthy and his clubmate, Seamus Coleman, are the best players we have operating in the Premier League but it is a worry to see McCarthy miss games for Ireland and then, the following week, play for Everton. I don’t know whether he’s just shy or really has a passion to play for Ireland.”
O’Neill demands 100% from his players and gives that back in spades.
Asked about Brady’s quotes the Ireland boss said: “It’s not just a soundbite, I genuinely feel that. They might not perform as well but that doesn’t mean the players don’t want to play.
“James has had a few problems, as you know, he had hamstring problems way back some time ago and had to take quite a few weeks out. In one year, he has only played one game for us. He’s back, he’s played a number of games now in quick succession and he’s got a couple of days here to get over things, as did Seamus Coleman.”
O’Neill added: “People are entitled to say what they want,” continued the Irish boss,”I don’t think that’s the approach we should be going into the game with, a pessimistic approach. I don’t think we’d get too far with that. The players are looking forward to the game, they’re ready for the match and I’m not overly concerned.”
