Roberto Martinez believes Roy Keane has jeopardised James McCarthy’s relationship with Republic of Ireland’s supporters by questioning the midfielder’s commitment to the international cause.

Martinez has dismissed as “nonsense” Keane’s claims that Everton’s Irish contingent are pressured into avoiding internationals and that the Goodison manager regularly provides bleak injury bulletins to Martin O’Neill. But it was the Republic of Ireland assistant manager’s willingness to cast doubt on McCarthy’s commitment that has truly irked Martinez.

He views the insinuation as a part of an agenda to distract from Ireland’s poor performance in Scotland a week ago and questioned Keane’s right to assess any player’s commitment by alluding to the former Manchester United captain’s chequered history with his country.

Injury

McCarthy has missed the past three qualifiers through injury but, with the midfielder having pledged allegiance to Ireland despite being born in Scotland, his commitment is unquestionable, Martinez believes.

“It’s completely unfair,” said the Everton manager, who saw Seamus Coleman also dragged into the dispute by Keane. “I’m sure there is an agenda. If there is an issue it should be treated with respect and privately to get to the bottom of it. To make things public could get some Irish fans thinking the players don’t want to play or that Everton have stopped some players from going. That’s nonsense. That’s just ridiculous. Those players are desperate to play for their country and it’s wrong and unfair to put a doubt in the mind of the fans.”

Martinez himself was not spared in Keane’s latest outburst, with the Irishman claiming the Catalonian did not appreciate Ireland’s situation because he never played international football. “That’s his opinion,” he replied. “It’s nonsense.”

Keane’s past

The Everton manager also alluded to Keane’s past as a player, including walking out on the eve of the 2002 World Cup, as undermining his authority on the matter.

He said: “I could easily comment on it and it would be an easy target because of his previous as a player but my relationship is with Martin O’Neill and our contact is frequent. We share information and that’s how it’s going to carry on.”

Martinez could aggravate Keane further tomorrow by selecting McCarthy for the home game against West Ham United. The midfielder missed the defeat by Scotland with a grade one hamstring tear suffered at Sunderland and, with two weeks’ recovery usually required, is in contention.

Foot injury

Coleman, meanwhile, played through the Scotland game with five stitches in a foot injury and Darron Gibson has not trained due to a knee problem sustained at Celtic Park.

“We are in an age in football when injuries are black and white,” Martinez added. “Players get a scan for everything and it’s not a subjective opinion where you think someone is carrying a problem; that’s gone out of the game.” Guardian Service