McCarthy won’t make Wales tie
MARTIN O’NEILL has ruled out a return for James McCarthy in the Republic of Ireland’s opening UEFA Nations League game in September.
McCarthy, 27, is recovering from a double leg break sustained in January on Everton duty.
While ‘he’s doing fine’, according to O’Neill, the midfielder won’t be available for the trip to Wales (September 6) and the friendly in Poland (September 11).
Fellow midfielder Robbie Brady is closer to playing again after knee damage, but O’Neill won’t rush him back for the internationals against France on May 28 and the USA on June 2.
The manager has a call to make on winger Aiden McGeady, who has been playing with a heel injury for struggling Sunderland in recent weeks.
‘I will see about Aiden,’ he said. ‘If the heel problem doesn’t clear up we will perhaps leave him for the summer time and see where we stand then.’
McGeady is on 93 caps but ‘hasn’t mentioned retirement’, according to O’Neill.
Wes Hoolahan has called it a day for Ireland, and the Derry native lamented not working with the Dubliner earlier in his career.
‘He’s a player who I would have liked to have gotten hold of at 21 or 22, and this is no disrespect to any other manager, but I think you could have taught him the game the way I was taught it at Nottingham Forest,’ he said.
‘Wes was never a minute’s trouble. He always played the game like a kid and I mean that in the best possible way.’
As a plus, war-horse Jon Walters will soldier on for the Nations League and the Euro 2020 campaign. ‘Jon wants to continue and he’s available,’ said the manager. ‘At this minute, with only Shane Long and the other two lads (Sean Maguire and Scott Hogan) quite young, having Jon in terms of experience is no bad thing.’
O’Neill said he will shed light on the future of other veterans, such as John O’Shea and Glenn Whelan ‘next week’ when he announces his squad for the Scott Brown Testimonial against Celtic on May 20, and the friendlies against France and the USA.
‘The Celtic game came a wee bit late so it might be a bit of mixing and matching for us in that game. There’s a couple of lads I’ll give time off to. They had known about these games (France and USA) and were trying to organise something at the end of the season for their families.
‘It might be an opportunity for one or two to shine.’
Callum Robinson, the Preston forward, may be on O’Neill’s mind.
‘He’s a nice little footballer and at least, without coaxing, he wants to come and play. I always think that’s a half decent step if the player wants to come in.’
As for Liam Kelly, O’Neill bristled slightly when asked about the Reading midfielder who seems ambivalent about declaring for Ireland. Did you speak to him? ‘No.’ Do you plan to speak to him? ‘No.’ ‘His position was pretty categoric. The comment from the club was he wanted to keep his options open in case England came calling. I haven’t a problem with that. Am I going to go and see him after that? No.
‘If a player says “Listen, I’ve had a think about it”, that’s a different proposition.’
O’Neill revealed he may join Roy Keane as part of the ITV team in the World Cup finals in Russia next month.