Kevin Kilbane: James McCarthy must put Ireland first despite club duties

In a decorated international career, Kevin Kilbane defied some of his club physiotherapists to bolster the Irish cause, and he feels James McCarthy may have to do likewise next month.

Relations between Irish managerial duo of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane with Everton have become strained over the availability, or lack of, McCarthy and Toffees clubmate Seamus Coleman during the Euro 2016 qualification campaign. That public spat aside, as well as McCarthy’s niggling hamstring issues, 110-cap legend Kilbane believes the onus is on the player to be in Dublin on March 29 for a pivotal tie against the Group D leaders.

“We need James fit and right for the game against Poland,” asserted Kilbane, mightily impressed by the Glaswegian’s comeback displays against Liverpool and Chelsea over the past week.