DOUBTS REMAIN OVER the fitness of James McCarthy ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman explained on Monday that McCarthy and fellow Ireland international Darron Gibson would be out of action for roughly three weeks after both players had operations to correct respective groin injuries, meaning that they face a race against time to regain fitness for October’s Group D qualification games.
“He (Gibson) had a similar operation to James McCarthy. He’ll be out around three weeks or four weeks to recover from that surgery and he’s doing well,” Koeman told the club’s official website.
“It’s always frustrating for footballer players to get injuries, or get an operation or surgery, because you lose some time and training.”
Koeman added: “It’s always difficult, but it’s not a long-term injury and hopefully he and James will be back with in the team and training as soon as possible.”
Martin O’Neill is set to name his Ireland squad for the games against Georgia and Moldova on Friday, and McCarthy’s lay-off, in particular, will come as a blow to the Boys in Green boss.
The 25-year-old, who has featured just twice for the Toffees this season, was included in the last Ireland squad, but departed the camp prior to Robbie Keane’s send-off against Oman in order to receive treatment on his injury.
He missed the opening World Cup qualifier against Serbia as a result, which finished 2-2 in Belgrade.
Gibson, meanwhile, has made just 17 appearances for Everton over the course of the last three seasons and the latest set-back adds to his frustration.
The Derry native penned a new two-year contract with the club ahead of the 2016-17 campaign, but injury has thus far prevented him from featuring under new boss Koeman.
Ireland face Georgia in Dublin on October 6 before taking on Moldova away on 9 October.
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