McCarthy targeted by Italian scouts

JAMES McCARTHY is attracting attention from Serie A club Palermo and Serie B outfit Brescia.

The Republic of Ireland U21 international was scouted by representatives from the Italian clubs in Hamilton Academical’s 1-0 defeat by Rangers in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

However, it seems unlikely the 18-year-old , who is contracted to the Accies until 2011 and turned down the chance to join Liverpool in 2007, will become the first Irish player to try his luck in Italy since Robbie Keane nine years ago. The midfielder insisted over the weekend that his long-term future lies in either Scotland or England.

‘‘Celtic might be a good move for me in time, but I am happy to be at Hamilton in the meantime,” said McCarthy.

“And it’s not just about Celtic. If the right club came in for me — up here or down south — then I would have to seriously consider it.

“I won’t be here all my life. Hopefully, at some stage, a big club will come in for me, and I’ll be able to go there and get my chance. I want to play at the highest level — in the long-term maybe play in the English Premier League.”

The youngster also explained his decision to declare for Ireland instead of his native Scotland.

“If they had come in for me first I would definitely have played for Scotland,” said McCarthy. “But the way they (the SFA]) put it to me (in 2006) was: ‘Well, we’re not going to take you on just now, because you are not good enough.

“Then Ireland came over and watched me in a game and immediately said to me: ‘Would you like to play in a game against Italy?’ I said, ‘Yeh’, cos I was just happy to get an international call-up. I was thrilled.

“I would have played for Scotland, aye, of course. A wee while ago the SFA did come back in and asked (Hamilton manager) Billy Reid if it would be okay if they could speak to me.

“But I said: ‘No, it’s too late, I’ve made my decision. I’m happy to play for Ireland.

‘‘Ireland have been great to me — they’ve looked after me, they’ve taken my family over to games and paid for their stay. They’ve done all sorts of things for me, so I’m not going to turn my back on them.’’

McCarthy’s decision to spurn the Scots’ advances has meant he has shipped massive abuse from the terraces but the youngster insists the boo-boys don’t bother him.

‘‘The abuse I get doesn’t bother me in the slightest,” insisted McCarthy.

“I don’t really hear what they are saying — all I know is it’s just a bunch of idiots shouting. It honestly doesn’t bother me. I just keep my head down and play away.”