Boss wants McCarthy to play Spain game

Giovanni Trapattoni maintained yesterday’s prevailing “90%” theme at his press conference in Malahide when, in looking ahead to the game against Spain in New York on June 11, he suggested that “90%, yes,” James McCarthy would make the trip.

The element of doubt, he explained, related to the player experiencing “a little bit of groin pain” but, he added pointedly, if the pain had been bad it would have been “impossible” for McCarthy to play the way he had against Georgia. In short, Trapattoni made it clear he really wants the Wigan man in the Big Apple.

“It is important for him to come,” he declared. “Even 30 minutes against the Spanish will increase his confidence. That is important. A player should never renounce the chance to go.”