John O'Shea, Jeff Hendrick and Séamus Coleman are expected to be amongst the members of the Irish squad who gather this afternoon in Abbotstown, but it is not clear whether James McCarthy will travel, after Ronald Koeman revealed on Saturday that the midfielder may require surgery to sort out a groin injury that looks likely to keep him out of the World Cup qualifier against Serbia next week.
None of the four played any part for their clubs over the weekend and the expectation is O’Shea might need more than a week to get over his injury, also a groin strain, before he is in a position to play competitively. However Coleman and Hendrick (ankle and hamstring respectively) are said to have been making good progress over the past week and both seem to stand a good chance of being involved next Monday in Belgrade.
For McCarthy, the injury comes at a time when his future at Goodison Park is being widely questioned. Clearly down the pecking order, there have been suggestions the midfielder has already indicated his desire to leave, but Koeman said he will not be sold in the current window and had sought to provide reassurance over the preceding days that the Ireland international was very much a part of his plans.
Crucially, though, McCarthy needs to get fit again if he is to play for anyone and the Dutchman said the club’s medical staff were not yet sure on how best to proceed. “We need to decide if it is operation, yes or no,” he said, before adding, in relation to the player’s future: “There is more interest in players of Everton and we like to keep everybody and players like McCarthy need to stay.”
Murphy move
Daryl Murphy
, meanwhile, has completed his move to
Newcastle United
, with the 33-year-old reported to have signed a two- year deal after the clubs agreed a fee of almost €3.5 million, with Ipswich due another €1.15 million if Rafa Benitez’s side wins promotion back to the Premier League.
“Daryl Murphy put in a transfer request and my view is you don’t stand in the way of someone who wants to leave,” said Mick McCarthy, when asked about the move. “It is great move for him and he has been terrific for us, so I wish him well. It is a great bit of business for the club and we will reinvest and get other players in.”
Murphy had been widely linked with various other clubs last summer after scoring 27 goals in all competitions, but opted to stay at Ipswich before struggling to match that form for McCarthy’s side last year. He remains well regarded, not least for is phenomenal work rate and selflessness, and his extensive experience of the Championship clearly appeals to Benitez, who has been looking to add that to his Newcastle side.
Attacking option
“He gives us another option in attack,” said the Spaniard, “and we could see from this weekend’s game against Brighton that we needed more bodies up front. Daryl has a good attitude and he can be very important for us this season.”
Murphy is clearly pleased about the move. “It was a no- brainer for me and I’m happy it’s all done,” he said.
The player played no part in the games of either club over the weekend as the move was being completed, but Marc Wilson, James McClean and Glenn Whelan were amongst the Irish starters at their various clubs, and Shane Long came on for Southampton as they snatched a late goal to draw at home to Sunderland.
Shane Duffy, meanwhile, made his debut for Brighton, playing 90 minutes as Chris Hughton’s side lost 2-0 at St James’ Park. The defender is not in the Ireland squad on this occasion, as he is suspended for the Serbia match.
