Celtic’s James McCarthy mystery

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.