James McCarthy was missing from the Celtic squad at Motherwell yesterday with no comment on the midfielder.
Celtic signed McCarthy on the same day as Joe Hart, while the keeper has played in every minute since then the former Crystal Palace man has been seen much more sparingly.
McCarthy played in the Celtic matches on September 11, 16, 19, 21, 26 and 30 then was an unused substitute in the away win at Aberdeen on October 3.
Detail on Celtic absences and injuries tends to be vague with no questions asked about McCarthy before or after the 2-0 win at Motherwell.
Late on Saturday night The Scotsman quoted Postecoglou from his Friday media conference for Sunday newspapers discussing the benefits of a fortnight’s training for his non-internationalists:
Yes, [James] McCarthy, Giakoumakis, Mikey [have benefitted from the ten-day break] but even guys like [Cameron] Carter-Vickers and Jota. People forget they arrived, had two sessions with us and then we threw them in.
Jota’s second game for us was away to Betis. Cameron the same. So for those guys to have those ten days just to settle on and off the field. To settle their lives down and get a bit of normalcy around it.
After losing Scott Brown, Olivier Ntcham and Ryan Christie during the course of the summer transfer window midfield was an area badly in need of reinforcements. Liam Shaw doesn’t appear to have made a favourable impression leaving McCarthy as the only midfield addition to the squad.
Postecoglou will meet the media tomorrow to preview Tuesday’s Europa League tie against Ferencvaros.
hes a sicknote and is done ,the only mystery is why he was signed and given a 4 year deal
100%spot on henrik. It is clear as per reports that Desmond bought him over the head of Ange. Scandalous in the first place but also on a 4 year contract. Time for Desmond and co to walk.
Pointless
I think the only safe conclusion here is, like Liam Scales, he was a DD appointment – DD wanted to impress how quickly he could get things done. This hubris coupled with his nostalgia for things Irish have led to a situation that we’ve now played 9 league games and a couple of Euro games and neither Liam Scales nor James McCarthy have featured to any significant extent and made little contribution. James’s 4-year contract you have to put it down to him playing hardball and DD’s desperation. I hope the wages are coming directly from DD’s pocket. Having said all that I hope the two young men in question still make something out of their situation. They’re in the squads so they deserve our support.