James McCarthy Gives Irish Martin O'Neill A Massive Boost
In a week that has just seen bad news emerge from the Republic of Ireland camp, finally – and ironically – on a miserable day at Abbotstown some good news has burst from beyond the injury cloud.
Midfielder James McCarthy has trained fully with the Irish squad this morning, giving him every chance to take on Wales in Friday night's crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier.
It is a massive boost for manager Martin O’Neill who has already been forced to prepare without injured duo Harry Arter and Wes Hoolahan as well as the suspended Robbie Brady from the midfield department.
McCarthy has been nursing a hamstring problem and has not played since appearing off the bench for Everton against Spurs in the Premier League on March 5.
Yesterday Irish assistant boss Roy Keane admitted that the 26-year-old was "highly unlikely" to play if he didn't train fully with the squad this morning, on the eve of the crunch tie at the Aviva Stadium.
Considering their recent history, a penny for Toffees boss Ronald Koeman’s thoughts on the news that O'Neill now has McCarthy available.
But O’Neill won't care and may just will feel like he’s won the Euromillions in a week of non-stop bad news.