King expects McCarthy to report for under-21 duty

SOCCER/EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIERS:HAVING BEEN deemed surplus to requirements, for the time being at least, by senior boss Giovanni Trapattoni, James McCarthy has been named in the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming under-21 Championships qualifiers against Hungary and Turkey.

Noel King has made contact with the Wigan starlet and expects him to report for duty when the squad assembles next Monday. However, given McCarthy’s habit of picking up knocks at inopportune times, from an Irish perspective at least, the manager could be forgiven for not taking anything for granted.

McCarthy will be in action for his club in the Premier League this weekend, with newcomers QPR due at the DW Stadium, and King will be hoping he can come through the match unscathed.

“James will be a good addition to our squad,” King said yesterday. “We are building a competitive squad now and if everybody that is eligible for this age group was fit it would be one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had just to name the squad.

“James played in the last competitive game for the under-21s against Estonia (last August) so he knows most of the players.

“He has a great pedigree and everybody knows the talent he possesses.”

McCarthy has not featured for the under-21s in over a year, his last appearance coming in that 5-0 win over Estonia in a match that opened King’s term.

In the interim the Glasgow native made his competitive debut in the Euro 2012 qualifers, his cameo against Macedonia ending speculation he might declare for Scotland, but also managed to fall foul of Trapattoni following a string of no-shows for international friendlies.

The latest of those came a matter of weeks ago when he pulled out of the squad for the friendly against Croatia but was fit enough to line out for Wigan the following Saturday.

A succession of minor knocks have been offered in the way of excuses by the Lancashire club, but Trapattoni was clearly less than impressed and his omission from Tuesday’s trimmed down senior squad was a pointed snub for the midfielder.

Not that King will be unduly concerned, given McCarthy’s impact during his time in underage teams. Emerging from a qualifying group containing Italy was always going to prove a tall order and McCarthy’s involvement will certainly enhance Ireland’s chances.

Ireland open their campaign against Hungary in Sligo next Thursday before travelling to Manisa in Turkey the following Tuesday.

The Republic of Ireland senior team have moved up two places to 31st in the latest Fifa rankings. Spain’s reign as the world’s number-one ranked team has come to an end, with the Netherlands replacing them.

For Euro 2013 qualifiers against Hungary on Thursday, September 1st and Turkey on Tuesday, September 6th:

Ian McLoughlin (MK Dons), Aaron McCarey (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Lanre Oyebanjo (York City), Shane Duffy (Everton), Gavin Gunning (Dundee United), Rob Kiernan (Wigan Athletic), Niall Canavan (Scunthorpe United), Aidan White (Leeds United), Richie Towell (Celtic), Mark Connolly (Bolton Wanderers), Adam Barton (Preston North End), Conor Clifford (Chelsea), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic), Jeff Hendrick (Derby County), Aaron Doran (Inverness CT), Robbie Brady (Hull City), Seán Scannell (Crystal Palace), Joe Mason (Cardiff City)