IRELAND’S JAMES MCARTHY believes new striker Conor Sammon can be a success at international level.

The 26-year-old will make his senior debut at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow evening after being named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s team to take on Poland earlier today.

Former UCD and Derry City target man Sammon left the League of Ireland for Kilmarnock in 2008 before arriving at Wigan Athletic three season later, where he became clubmates with midfielder McCarthy.

And although he has since moved on to Derby County after failing to nail down a regular starting position, McCarthy has backed the Dubliner, who Trap has likened to Caleb Folan, to bring something new to the table.

He’s a great lad and I’m delighted to see him in the squad,” McCarthy said. “I think he’ll give us something different and I’m sure he’ll do well.”

Another player who was close to joining Roberto Martinez’s side during the last transfer window was Aiden McGeady. It looked as though he had sealed a deal to the Latics from Spartak Moscow on deadline day but the transfer collapsed at the last minute.

“I think it was just about a done deal but something fell through,” McCarthy added. “We were gutted not to get him in as he would have been a massive addition to the squad. These things happen in football and with the squad we’ve got I’m sure we can kick on in the Premier League.”

There was continued speculation about the 23-year-old’s own future at the DW Stadium last month but he insisted that he is happy to remain at the club he joined from Hamilton Academical in 2009.

“There were clubs links with me. It’s always good to see but I’m happy with Wigan. I’ve got another three years on my contract.”

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