Soccer: Wigan Athletic's James McCarthy has been called into the finalised 22-man Republic of Ireland squad for the opening fixture of the inaugural Carling Nations Cup against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on February 8th.
The young midfielder’s inclusion appears to have come at the expense of Birmingham City’s Keith Fahey, who didn’t have one of his better games in the friendly defeat to Norway in November, but produced a solid performance in the 1-1 Euro 2012 qualifying draw away to Slovakia in October.
The 20-year-old McCarthy, who was linked with a January move to Chelsea, has played just once for Ireland, in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Brazil in March last year. A severe ankle injury hampered his progress this season, however, but after three months out he opened his account with a goal on his return to action against Aston Villa last week.
Fahey is on the standby list with Celtic striker Anthony Stokes, but his omission comes as a surprise, given his contribution to the campaign so far, which included a crucial away winner against Armenia in September. It could be, however, that Trapattoni wishes to see alternative midfield options such as McCarthy, Everton’s Seamus Coleman and Stoke City’s Marc Wilson.
Like Coleman and Wilson, Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark is waiting to make his debut, and is also an option in midfield, though given the absence of the injured Greg Cunningham and veteran Kevin Kilbane, who was available for selection, it is more likely he is pencilled in for a role at left-back where he has also featured for his club this season.
Stokes, too, will feel hard done by, considering he was in the original squad and the impact he has had with SPL leaders Celtic this season. The striker has found the net 11 times in 14 starts, most recently against Aberdeen last night.
The strikers included ahead of him are Reading’s in-form Shane Long, captain Robbie Keane, Wolves striker Kevin Doyle, Stoke’s Jonathan Walters and Newcastle’s Leon Best.
Other absentees include the injured trio of Stephen Hunt, Paul McShane and Kevin Foley, while Aiden McGeady is in pre-season training with Spartak Moscow. Without Hunt, McGeady and Fahey, the options on the left handside of midfield are Damien Duff and Keith Treacy.
Republic of Ireland Squad v Wales (Carling Nations Cup):Shay Given, Keiren Westwood, John O'Shea, Ciaran Clark, Seamus Coleman, Richard Dunne, Sean St. Ledger, Stephen Kelly, Darren O'Dea; Marc Wilson, Darron Gibson, Glenn Whelan, Paul Green, Liam Lawrence, James McCarthy, Keith Treacy, Damien Duff; Robbie Keane, Jonathan Walters, Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Leon Best
