IRELAND HAVE BEEN dealt a potential blow with the news that James McCarthy has suffered a hamstring injury in Everton training.
The midfielder could now miss next month’s play-off matches against Denmark, with caretaker boss David Unsworth confirming the news today.
Martin O’Neill had been hoping that the 26-year-old would be fit, particularly with another important midfielder, David Meyler, suspended for the first leg in Copenhagen on 11 November.
Yet McCarthy, who last played for Ireland in the 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Moldova back in October 2016, will now be absent for a period.
Speaking to BBC reporter Conor McNamara, Unsworth allayed concerns that the injury was serious, suggesting it will rule the player out for “a couple of weeks”.
Just spoke to David Unsworth about James McCarthy’s latest injury. Says he’ll talk to Martin O’Neill about “what’s best for club & player.”
— Conor McNamara (@ConorMcNamaraIE) October 29, 2017
Unsworth says McCarthy’s injury is “nothing too severe... had a scan, he’s out for a couple of weeks”.
— Conor McNamara (@ConorMcNamaraIE) October 29, 2017
Ireland’s play-off is in 2 weeks.
David Unsworth says James McCarthy could be out for two weeks after tweaking his hamstring #EFC
— BBC Merseyside Sport (@bbcmerseysport) October 29, 2017
In a statement issued to The42, an Everton spokesperson added that the club “don’t know as yet how long it will keep him sidelined”.
Before the setback, the Glasgow native had been making good progress.
On Wednesday, he started his first game for the Toffees in nearly nine months, as he featured in their League Cup loss to Chelsea.
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No real loss to the ireland squad, we have other midfielders who are playing well for their clubs week in week out. He probably wouldn’t even start either of the play offs games if he was fit so i wouldn’t be too concerned if I’m honest.
@John O’Regan: with meyler out he would of been useful.
@John O’Regan: Agree. Why is it a worry for Ireland? I’m not worried anyway as a fan, does nothing when he plays, never seems to want the ball, does’nt want to boss the game ( like a midfielder should) should be well covered in midfield, Meyler will be a loss though
@Irishoverseas: Really? Would O’Neill have thrown a guy who’s played no football in the last few months into this game? I certainly hope not
@Brian O’Loughlin: he played midweek and played today so why not? O Neil isn’t scared about putting players in who don’t play regular club football. Now with McCarthy out it will be Whelan who has proven he doesn’t the legs compared to Meyler which McCarthy could of offered being younger..
@Irishoverseas: useful for what exactly?
@running man: Myler will be a loss but we’ll have brady back and o’dowda has kicked on from his performances with ireland for club so he’ll keep his place I’m sure. It always comes down to grit and heart when it comes to the play offs with ireland so whoever plays will have to show that for starters and hopefully a bit of magic from brady or hoolihan will get us to the finals.
@Irishoverseas: “Would HAVE been useful”. Irish education system needs a massive improvement.See this so often on here.And yes,I am a grammar nazi.Rightly so.
@Kieran Conroy: people not putting spaces after their commas and full stops annoys me.
@Gordon Nash: LOL! Not sure where you got that from.There is no requirement to have extra space following a full stop.
@Gordon Nash: Capital ‘P’ for the first word of your sentence please.
@running man: in theory he is a loss but if people remember his recent performances for Ireland they were really really poor. Why would this game be any different. A Mgrs nightmare. Can’t trust him to play or consistently turn up.
@Gordon Nash: haha
@Irishoverseas: where did you go to school? Could OF and would OF? It’s could HAVE and would HAVE. I despair for young people when they can’t even get basis stuff like this right.
@John O’Regan: No he isn’t , you would think he’s Messi the way they are going on, other countries have noticed how things are being reported and it’s getting embarrassing at this stage.
@Irishoverseas: he didn’t play today for Everton, was injured. Played earlier midweek game alright
Just wondering. What was his last Ireland game for us.
@Eoin Mulhern: Moldova away I think
@Eoin Mulhern: in the fourth sentence, it is mentioned.
Ah no but who else is going to run away from the ball pointing his fingers where he thinks it should be played
He really is very unfortunate. He could be a great player for us.
@GARFARKLE: that’s the kind of stuff you say about a teenager. Not someone who’s been around for years.
@Colly: you probably say it about Conor Hourihane, who is the same age as McCarthy
Hes not had one decent game for us no loss
No loss, shocking player!
Worry for Denmark more like
ah here,he must be made of paper
Aaaahhh for f##k sake.
I know most people don’t like whelan but he does his job in every match and was man of the match for villa today vs Birmingham so I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts away from home with Meyler out
Cut him loose..
Potential doesn’t work in football unfortunately
These two matches are gonna be better than any match we will play if we make to WorldCup2018
So injury prone he’d be better considering a career playing Bridge or Pontoon at a stretch, probably get injured with the excitement of the latter though!