Martin O’Neill “totally refutes” criticism from “bleating” Ronald Koeman over James McCarthy’s injury situation.
The Everton manager said the midfielder was “massively overloaded” by playing in two games in four days for the Republic of Ireland last month, having just regained fitness following six weeks out with a groin injury.
“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 after McCarthy returned to Everton following his participation in Ireland’s wins over Georgia and Moldova.
“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.”
O’Neill has responded to the criticism on Wednesday morning, when announcing the provisional Ireland squad to play Austria next week.
“I totally refute that (Koeman’s comments),” the Ireland manager said.
“James had declared himself fit. He played the first game and came off in the second, not because he was injured, but because he was tired.
“Remarkably, he trained the day the manager was bleating about it.”
MON on Koeman's complaints over Ireland's use of James McCarthy- 'I totally refute that..he trained on day manager was bleating about it'
— Dion Fanning (@dionfanning) November 2, 2016
McCarthy has made one appearance since the Ireland games in October, coming on as a second-half substitute for Gerard Deulofeu against Manchester City on October 15.
However, he suffered a hamstring tear in training last week, and is a doubt for Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Austria in Vienna.
“James is improving day by day,” O’Neill said.
“If the game was this weekend he wouldn’t make it. The following weekend I would say he’d be doubtful at this minute.
“Maybe he can get some proper training in. It’s one of those where I’ll leave him in provisional squad and see how things go. I would say he wouldn’t make it this week.”
Koeman doesn’t seem like the shy type, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was to respond to O’Neill’s comments.
Everton want to sell James McCarthy, and it's clear which club he should join https://t.co/Q1bDynUGmm
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 23, 2016
McCarthy’s future had been in doubt before he started picking up injuries, and his club and international managers had their dispute.
The 25-year-old was reportedly surplus to requirement at Goodison Park, and was substituted for tactical reasons during Everton’s game against West Brom in August.
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