Everton boss Koeman ‘categorically wrong’ on Irish handling of James McCarthy

Ronald Koeman’s allegation that Martin O’Neill’s decision to select James McCarthy for the game against Wales went against the advice of his own medical staff has been angrily dismissed as “absolutely and categorically wrong” by sources in the Irish camp.

McCarthy, who had been nursing a hamstring problem when he arrived in Dublin for Friday’s World Cup qualifier, had apparently recovered in time to be named in the side only to then pull up during the warm-up, his place in the team at kick off being by David Meyler.

Yesterday, Everton manager Koeman rounded on both O’Neill and McCarthy over the player’s selection, making the provocative charge, in particular, that the decision had been taken against the advice of the Irish medical staff.