LIAM MACKEY: The only way is up for Jimmy Mac
But then another transfer window closes and James McCarthy finds himself still at Wigan Athletic, still scrapping for survival rather than competing for silverware at the other end of the table.
But if he’s feeling at all weary of the fight or envious of those with Champions League aspirations in mind, he does a good or perhaps diplomatic job of accentuating the positive.
“I think it was just paper talk, to be honest, whispers here and there,” he says of the by now customary transfer speculation. “It’s another window that has come and gone with a bit of speculation. You just take it in your stride. It’s good to see your name linked with big clubs, certain clubs, that’s always nice. That means I’m doing something right, but I am still a Wigan player.
“Since I have been there it’s been a constant relegation fight and it’s not easy, obviously. We would like to kick on and kick away from there but it’s a tough league. We played Southampton earlier in the season and I felt we passed them off the pitch and we deserved the three points, but the other day it showed how crazy the league is as they came and we had to defend for the majority of the game. They were brilliant, to be fair to them, as they are new to the league and gave it everything. Thankfully we got a point in the end and I’m sure it will be a big point.”
One upside for McCarthy at Wigan is that, despite once again finding themselves in the relegation zone, the players are always encouraged to try to express themselves by manager Roberto Martinez.
“The gaffer constantly wants to play nice football,” he agrees, “and he will never change that, no matter if you are getting beat 2-0 or 3-0. He doesn’t want people lumping the ball up the pitch. That is what he grew up with and we have inherited that. We play good football and, hopefully, we can try now to kick on.”
After a series of false starts to his international career and his withdrawal from selection for the Euro 2012 squad because of his father’s illness, the sense that McCarthy is finally making up for lost time in the green shirt was emphasised at the weekend when he picked up the FAI’s International Young Player of the Year award. But you also suspect that the gong recognises his huge potential for Ireland as much as his relatively modest senior achievements to date.
Saying that the award was an honour for him and “more importantly” his family, McCarthy also concedes that, in an evolving squad, he cannot afford to rest on his laurels.
“Being back involved in the squad and starting to get a run of games is good,” he says. “I’ve been enjoying playing games because that’s what you play football for. But I won’t take it for granted.
“We have a big squad with a lot of young boys coming through. Even the senior boys, they’re doing a great job at their clubs and they are coming here wanting to play. So I won’t get carried away. I will keep working hard, trying to better myself and get into the team.”
Returning to the subject of Wigan and transfer deals, McCarthy admits that he was disappointed a proposed move for Aiden McGeady from Spartak Moscow failed to materialise.
“I think it was just about a done deal but something fell through in the last minute,” he says. “I’m gutted not to see him come as he would have been a massive player for us.”
In contrast, McCarthy is delighted to be linking up for the Poland game tonight with a Wigan old boy, Conor Sammon, now of Derby County.
“Big Con, great lad and great player,” he enthuses. “I was really gutted to see him go. He was doing really well with us, coming on and making big impacts.
“But he wanted to go play week in, week out and has done that at Derby and is scoring goals. He is a real handful when he gets going. I still keep in touch with him and he’s a great lad. He is constantly working on things behind the scenes and is a very good pro and I’m delighted to see him in the squad. He is a big powerful lad and really quick so he will give us a different option.”
As to McCarthy’s future at Wigan, he plays his usual straight bat when asked if relegation would mean he would definitely leave the club.
“I can’t really comment on that as, obviously, I don’t know. It’s down to the club or someone else, I’m happy at the club and I’m positive we won’t go down. I have been linked with clubs here and there but I’ll keep working hard and see what the end of the season brings.”
As ever with Jimmy Mac, it’s a case of watch this space.
