Everton boss urges James McCarthy to snub Ireland

Everton boss Ronald Koeman has advised James McCarthy not to join up with the Republic of Ireland for their forthcoming match against Austria.

Toffees midfielder McCarthy, who has been nursing a hamstring injury, was on Wednesday named in Ireland’s provisional 35-man squad for the World Cup qualifier on November 12.

Koeman expressed his unhappiness about Ireland’s handling of the 25-year-old last month, when McCarthy played one full international match and around 80 minutes of another, having not featured for Everton since August 23 because of a groin problem.