McCarthy’s big chance to move up the line

Out goes Shay Given, 36 years of age and 125 caps. In comes James McCarthy, 21 years of age, three caps.

The big wheel keeps on turning in football and in Belgrade this evening there will be a chance for the young Wigan midfielder to lay down a marker for an international career which all will hope proves to have even half the longevity of that of the departing goalkeeper.

That hope carries an extra layer of warm good wishes in the case of McCarthy who withdrew from theEuropean Championship finals so that he could spend time with his father Willie following the latter’s diagnosis with cancer.