Ireland recall fit-again McCarthy and Coleman for Scotland clash

FORMER Hamilton Accies and Wigan midfielder James McCarthy and his Everton team-mate Seamus Coleman have been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad after injury for next month’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Scotland and the home friendly against USA.

The pair missed last month’s 7-0 demolition of Gibraltar and the creditable 1-1 draw in Germany with McCarthy, pictured, the victim of a thigh injury and Coleman suffering a hamstring problem. However, both players have since returned to action and were included in a provisional 36-man Ireland party announced by manager Martin O’Neill yesterday afternoon.

There was a place too for Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan, who suffered a minor leg fracture during the clash with the Germans in Gelsenkirchen which was expected to sideline him for between four and six weeks. However, Norwich midfielder Wes Hoolahan, once of Livingston, who nursing an ankle ligament

is problem, has not been included. O’Neill said: “I am looking forward to assembling the squad for the last time this year in preparation for our final games of 2014.

“I am absolutely delighted with the courage and determination we showed in our last two qualifiers, and hope we can continue this run next month against Scotland and the USA.”

O’Neill resisted the temptation to call rising Aston Villa star Jack Grealish into the squad despite speculation that he could be handed a first senior cap against the USA on 18 November.

The Villa midfielder is at the centre of a tug of war between the Republic and England, and O’Neill is adopting a delicate approach as he, with the help of assistant and Villa No 2 Roy fore the squad meets up on 10 November – after being drafted in last month because of a lack of defensive cover.

Ireland currently sit in jointfirst place in Group D with Poland having taken seven points from a possible nine after trips to Georgia and Germany either side of Gibraltar’s ill-fated visit to Dublin.

That record will be put to a stern test at Celtic Park on 14 November with the Scots also having enjoyed a promising opening to their campaign with the two sides, along with the Poles and the Georgians, seemingly battling it out for second place behind the world champions. Joachim Löw’s men remain favourites to top the group despite losing 2-0 in Poland and then failing to beat Ireland last month.