Soccer:After finding himself in the eye of a media storm since crying off last month's friendly against Wales with an ankle injury, James McCarthy could be forgiven if he had declined requests to meet with the Irish press corps this morning.

But the 20-year-old had no qualms about facing the media after training with the rest of the Republic of Ireland squad as he sought, once and for all, to put the record straight as to where his international allegiances lie.

When rumours of McCarthy’s apparent defection back to his native Scotland resurfaced no-one was more bemused than the young Glaswegian.

Now, and not before time, the question of his international future will finally be resolved beyond any lingering doubt as he prepares to make his competitive debut against Macedonia.

"There was talk here and there (about declaring for Scotland), but as far as I saw it, it was just the press jumping on stuff and there was nothing came of it,” McCarthy said today.

"I pulled out last month because of my ankle. I was doing rehab and I wanted to look after myself, and the club wanted to look after me as well. My main thing now is to try to get some game-time on the park for Ireland and put it all to bed.”

Roberto Martinez, his manager at Wigan, had muddied the waters with his suggestion that McCarthy should be given time to make his decision. McCarthy insists that was never the case but, despite his tender years, the youngster has been around long enough to avoid any potential conflict with his club boss.

"I'm not sure where that came from,” he added. “He was just trying to look after me. He has been great with me since I went to the club and I couldn't praise him any more.

"He is delighted to see me getting caps here and there. He wanted me to go, he just doesn't want me to do too much. He's trying to look after me. That's the way it is. He's delighted for me to get a cap.

"The gaffer has done really, really well for me. He has not put me in any trouble at all. I don't know where the stories came from.”