McCarthy enjoying the Keane effect

A day after Martin O’Neill suggested some of Ireland’s younger players might have been a tad nervous in anticipation of Roy Keane’s presence in the camp, James McCarthy has dismissed the idea, saying instead that the new assistant coach has been “a joy” to work with.

“Obviously Roy has played at the top all of his life and everyone respects him,” says the Everton midfielder. “He respected everyone else when he came into the squad. He was brilliant and a joy to work with. I thought his coaching sessions and training sessions day to day a couple of weeks ago were brilliant. We all really enjoyed it. There’s a good buzz about the place and we want to keep that momentum going in a few months’ time.”

McCarthy says it’s especially pleasing to have a man advising him who knows, from first-hand experience, what it’s like to be in the heat of midfield battle.

“It’s always going to be a big help. He’s brilliant to talk with. He knows the game, he knows his stuff and it’s brilliant to be learning from such a great footballer. Hopefully every one of us can keep learning from him and the gaffer Martin O’Neill.”

McCarthy played in 13 of Ireland’s 14 games in 2013 and says he’s now feeling at home in the international set-up after a couple of early false starts under Giovanni Trapattoni

“The more games you play, the more settled you get,” he says. “I feel I’ve settled in now. I hope I can kick on, get as many caps as possible and keep getting a run in the international squads.”

And a few goals wouldn’t go amiss. “I’ve said it myself. I’m like any other midfielder, you want to score more goals, get on the scoresheet. But if the team is doing well and you’re doing well, the important thing is to get the wins on the board. The rankings are not good enough (Ireland have now tumbled to 67 in the world) and we want to kick on and improve.”

On the club front, McCarthy regards Everton’s thrilling 3-3 draw in the Merseyside derby as one that got away, especially with a big week looming with games against Stoke, Manchester United and Arsenal.

“Yeah it’s always going to tough in the Premier League,” he notes. “The games are coming thick and fast. Especially today (at home to Stoke), we need to try and get back to winning ways. Conceding so late in the game against Liverpool, we all know it’s not good enough. The manner of the three goals, three set-pieces, we’ve been working on that. Stoke at home is going to be a tough game. We’ll not take any game lightly but we need to try and get three points on the board.

“There’s still a long way to go in the season. As we always say, as a club we won’t get carried away. We’ve had a decent enough start. We should have more points on the board, to be honest. We want to finish as high as we can. We’ll keep working hard and take each game as it comes.”

McCarthy was speaking at the launch of the FAI’s ‘Christmas bundle’ which sells from €40 for kids and €50 for adults and includes a ticket to the Serbia game in the Aviva Stadium on March 5, as well as an Ireland jersey. FAI season ticket and vantage holders have also received a special Christmas offer for a jersey-only package. Bookings can be made on-line at www.fai.ie/bundle before the Christmas delivery cut-off date, December 16.