McCarthy’s absence a worry

NOT for the first time, a Giovanni Trapattoni pre-match press conference was dominated by a player who was absent.

For Andy Reid and Stephen Ireland in the past, now read James McCarthy.

The Glasgow-born Wigan midfielder, recently returned to action after a lengthy lay-off with an ankle injury, was originally left out of the Ireland squad for tonight’s game against Wales. He then appeared in the U21 panel for Wednesday’s tie in Cyprus before suddenly being called up to the senior squad on Friday. On Saturday, he impressed for Wigan, scoring twice as they beat Blackburn Rovers 4-3 but also shipping a couple of heavy knocks in the course of the 90 minutes.

Then, after the match, came the news that he was withdrawing from the Wales game, leaving Trapattoni to try to bring some clarity to an odd chain of events yesterday.

That he wasn’t entirely successful perhaps had less to do with his often slippery grasp of English than the fact that there is now growing uncertainty surrounding McCarthy’s place in the Irish scheme of things — even a spokesman for his club, when contacted yesterday, could offer no more than a ‘no comment’ when asked if McCarthy was actually injured.

One thing that Trapattoni did make clear yesterday was that, having spoken with Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, he believed it was ultimately McCarthy’s decision to withdraw from the panel.

And, given the player’s recent injury woes and the demands of Wigan’s relegation battle, the Ireland manager was prepared to take a sympathetic view of McCarthy’s position, even as he admitted to disappointment that he could not now give him the run-out tonight which might have put him in line for a place against Macedonia in March.

“It’s not the club, it’s not the manager who pulled him out,” said Trapattoni. “He has an injury and he is also young. I think at the moment he wishes to concentrate on playing for Wigan because of their bad position and so has decided to stay at home. I accept this.”

Even though sources at the Scottish FA yesterday denied that there were any moves behind the scenes to try to recapture the 20 year old for Scotland, Trapattoni was inevitably asked if he felt the player’s commitment to Ireland might be wavering.

“I don’t think so because he likes us, he likes me,” said Trapattoni. “I show him enough esteem and also he played against Brazil. I follow him many times. I follow him when he played behind a striker, like a number 10 for example. I wish to have this possibility. Also when he plays in midfield. It is important to have a player with this personality.

“So much depends on a player’s character. I studied his character because it’s important. I want only players with the right mentality. When a player says ‘I want to be here to play’, it’s important. There is also the age. It’s important that the manager understands a young player’s psychology. I am patient, I allow him to decide, calmly.

“He must be sure he wants to be available for the national team. I think that would be very important for us.”

Amazingly, Trapattoni admitted that he has no telephone number for McCarthy; nor did he seem to think it was worthwhile having a face to face meeting with the player at this time.

“I spoke in the first month face to face with a player and it was a disaster,” he said to laughter, in an obvious reference to Stephen Ireland. “Do you know the name? The player has never come back. I also spoke was with the father of (Andy) O’Brien and we said ‘please come’. But O’Brien stays again with his club.”

While Trapattoni said that he would be happy to speak to McCarthy in the future, he insisted that he was happy with the options available to him tonight. Seamus Coleman and Ciaran Clark, as expected, will make their debuts while Jon Walters gets a second cap upfront, though Shane Long will be sprung from the bench in the second half. In midfield, either Darron Gibson or Paul Green will partner Glenn Whelan, with the Man United man the expected starter.

Of the established names, the player most looking forward to the game, for obvious reasons, is Shay Given. The out of favour Man City goalkeeper admitted that he’d hoped for some movement in the transfer window but, at the same time, said he understands why the club would want him to remain as cover for Joe Hart.

However, he intimated that City have given him an assurance that he will be free to move in the summer. And, before then, he pointed out, there are lots of games coming up so “who knows what might happen?”

The same, you’d have to say, applies to James McCarthy.