McCarthy groin injury adds to O’Neill’s World Cup woe, but Murphy heads to Toon
JAMES McCARTHY has emerged as a major injury doubt for Ireland’s upcoming World Cup qualifier with Serbia after club boss Ronald Koeman confirmed he may need an operation on a groin injury.
It is unclear as of yet whether the Everton midfielder, who was left out of the Toffees squad for their Premier League win at home to Stoke City yesterday, has suffered a recurrence of the same problem which blighted his preparations ahead of Euro 2016 during the summer.
Regardless, the news will be a real concern for Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, who already has fitness concerns over Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea and Jeff Hendrick.
‘We need to decide if it is operation, yes or no,’ said Koeman.
This groin injury is just another setback for the 26-year-old in what has been a torrid start to the season under Koeman.
The Glasgow-born star has lost his place in the centre of midfield to new signing Gana Gueye and has been shunted to a right wingback position as cover for international teammate Coleman, who has yet to feature in this campaign due to an ankle ligament injury picked up in the days before it got underway.
McCarthy also suffered the indignation of being substituted 38 minutes into a game against West Bromwich Albion for tactical reasons and, as a result, his future at Goodison Park appears to be nearing an end.
Reports emerged over the weekend that he and his representatives held discussions with senior Everton officials on Friday to inform them he wished to leave the club in order to play regular first team football in his preferred midfield position.
‘There is more interest in players of Everton and we like to keep everybody and players like McCarthy need to stay,’ Koeman insisted. With his club situation far from stable, it adds to the growing sense of unease as Ireland’s preparations for the start of their World Cup campaign in Belgrade next Monday hit full swing.
The FAI were making positive soundings about the progress Coleman and Hendrick (hamstring) were making, insisting both ‘could be in the mix for Serbia’.
The situation regarding O’Shea, who continues to recover from hip and groin injuries, remains unclear but he is also expected to make the trip to Dublin today.
Daryl Murphy (inset) will link up with the squad once his transfer to Newcastle United has been completed.
The Waterford native is on the verge of sealing his move from Ipswich Town after Mick McCarthy confirmed the player handed in a transfer request.
A fee in the region of £3 million has been agreed and the 33-yearold was left out of the Tractor Boys’ squad for their game with Preston North End yesterday in order for him to travel to St James’ Park to finalise the move.
‘He has put in a transfer request, he wants to go,’ McCarthy said. ‘Newcastle are spending and he probably thinks he can get back into the Premier League.
‘I take the view if they don’t want to be here then you might as well let him go and take the deal.’
Murphy has been with the Suffolk club on a permanent basis for three years following a move from Celtic.
A former Sunderland player, he has made four appearances for Ipswich this term but is yet to get on the scoresheet.
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez wants Murphy to boost his attacking options with three forwards – Dwight Gayle, Emmanuel Riviere and Aleksandar Mitrovic – currently in his first-team squad.