Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has no concerns over the fitness of James McCarthy for the upcoming European Championships but admits there are spots up for grabs in midfield before his final squad selection.
The Everton man has yet to fully train since joining up with the squad and while O’Neill admitted he is “getting better”, he also confirmed that his is a certainty in his squad.
The 25-year-old has won 33 caps since making his debut against Brazil five years ago and missed the European Championships four years ago to be with his ill father.
McCarthy has been a guaranteed starter under O’Neill and with the 30-man squad to be whittled down to 23 after the international friendlies with the Netherlands and Belarus, the Ireland manager has no fears over his thigh problem.
“He’s getting better, he’s had some scans which proved negative which is good,” he said.
“He’s got a little bit of time. He’s been an important part of the team over the last two years. The doctor tells me he’s making good progress. It’s one of those things you just want to be right rather than rushing back.
“I’m sure he’d like to participate in the two games,” before later adding he is “definitely” going to France.
“There are one or two places at this minute that are still undecided"
Central defender Ciaran Clark “improving”, while O’Neill said that striker Shane Long is fine after coming through training ahead of the games against the Dutch in Dublin on Friday evening and Belarus in Cork four days later.
The in-form Southampton striker had stitches on his knee, but is expected to feature in the final games before the squad depart on 8 June.
With Harry Arter, David Meyler Stephen Quinn, Eunan O’Kane and Darron Gibson all in the mix, O’Neill admitted that central midfield is one area where he has yet to make his mind on the make-up of personnel.
“That’s an area we’d certainly be having a look and we’ll be looking until after the second game [Belarus],” while adding that today’s half-an-hour 12-a-side was about casting a closer eye over some players who haven’t as much football under their belts as he would like.
“There are one or two places at this minute that are still undecided. The players I am talking about may have not had much game time, so these training sessions and matches that will ultimately make my mind up.
“I’ve got a couple of very decent players on stand-by as well. If anything happens in these two games, and there’s every possibility there will do, at least I have reasonable cover.”
Addressing the observation that some players may be psychologically affected by their domestic seasons – Wes Hoolahan and Robbie Brady suffered relegation with Norwich City, Clark likewise at Aston Villa and Aiden McGeady has been frozen out at promotion chasing Sheffield Wednesday – the 64-year-old does not believe it will hinder their respective mindsets.
“I think you have to put the disappointment at club level to one side and think of what you have done for the national side and take on the competition with confidence.
“That’s my job, but it’s in their make-up as well.”
Still unsure of which day he will announce the squad announcement, O’Neill lightheartedly responded when asked how he will deliver the bad news to the players that will not be on the plane to France.
“If there are one or two bigger than me maybe I’ll write to them,” he quipped.
