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.

And, speaking at yesterday’s press conference previewing Everton’s trip to Premier League leaders Manchester City tomorrow, the Dutchman expressed his frustration with O’Neill. After providing positive fitness updates for several players, including striker Romelu Lukaku and Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson, Koeman admitted McCarthy may not be risked at the Etihad Stadium.

“James McCarthy is a little more difficult, because after five or six weeks out of football after his surgery, he played the full game after three group sessions with Ireland,” Koeman said.

“He played the second game, and he’s been massively overloaded. We have to make a decision tomorrow if he’s really fit to be part of the team.”

Meanwhile, John Giles has expressed bafflement at O’Neill’s apparent lack of faith in Wes Hoolahan.

“Hoolahan is the only player we have that can be a creative force in the squad,” Giles told Off The Ball on Newstalk.

“Wes Hoolahan is not a world class player but he’s the best creative player we’ve got and even the other night in Moldova, the pass that he made to Shane Long for the first goal, there’s is nobody in the squad capable of doing that.”

Giles added: “Everyone is talking about him being 34, is he able to do it?

“There have been certain insinuations that he can’t do it away from home or he won’t last the 90 minutes but even if he is not going to last 90 minutes, why can’t he play for 60 or 70 minutes? We definitely need a creative force to really get things going.

“I think (James) McCarthy and (Glenn) Whelan haven’t provided that and there is no chance of them providing it in the future.

“(Robbie) Brady has got to come back into the team and (Jeff) Hendrick has got to come back in to the team but neither of them can provide what Hoolahan can provide.

“Time and time again when he has played, he has actually produced the goods.”