Martin O’Neill ‘overloaded’ James McCarthy

Ronald Koeman has accused Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill of mishandling James McCarthy after the Everton midfielder played all but nine minutes of last week’s victories over Georgia and Moldova.

McCarthy returned to action in the World Cup qualifiers after a six-week spell on the sidelines with a groin problem and featured for the full 90 minutes against the Georgians in Dublin last Thursday before being substituted late on in Chisenau on Sunday evening.

Koeman, who clashed with O’Neill over his use of Shane Long in a similar situation last season when in charge of Southampton, had urged O’Neill to “protect” the former Wigan midfielder over the international break.