James McCarthy has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Gibraltar, at least, with Everton eager to monitor the troublesome quad strain that ruled him out of the Europa League draw with FC Krasnodar on Thursday.
McCarthy was left in Liverpool on Wednesday, along with Séamus Coleman, who was recovering from a concussion suffered in the previous Europa League tie against Wolfsburg on September 18th.
However, the Donegal man made Martin O’Neill’s 27-man squad named this afternoon, with the Ireland management confident the full-back has recovered fully after four games on the sidelines.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez was fairly sure on Wednesday that McCarthy's complaint was not a "real injury" and more to do with fatigue. It is understood there remains a slim chance he could yet feature against Manchester United on Sunday (12pm), but for now he will not assemble in Portmarnock on Monday evening with those named by O'Neill today.
Whether he is deemed fit enough to be included in the squad to face Germany in Gelsenkirchen on October 14th remains to be seen, but he is likely to be given every opportunity by O'Neill.
Ireland face Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium this day week, having opened their Euro 2016 qualification campaign with a 2-1 win over Georgia in Tbilisi last month. Gibraltar lost 7-0 at home to Poland.
With a full weekend of fixtures ahead, O’Neill may well have to cope with more injuries to the group named today but with 27 selected there is room for manoeuvre, with only 23 permitted to be named in the matchday squad.
Barring a handful injuries, therefore, there is unlikely to be any additions between now and next Saturday’s game.
The loss of McCarthy’s is eased somewhat by Darron Gibson’s 90-minute showing for Everton against Krasnodar.
The midfielder started in place of McCarthy on Thursday, in what was only his second full game since missing the best part of last season with a knee injury sustained on Ireland duty last autumn.
McCarthy is one of 10 players, all of whom will either be monitored or remain on stand-by, left out after being named in an initial 37-man squad with goalkeeper Darren Randolph, defenders Stephen Kelly, Paul McShane, Damien Delaney and Shane Duffy, midfielders Andy Reid, Paul Green and strikers Simon Cox and Conor Sammon the others.
Republic of Ireland squad to face Gibraltar (27)
Goalkeepers: David Forde; Shay Given; Keiren Westwood; Rob Elliot
Defenders: Richard Keogh; Marc Wilson; Seamus Coleman; John O'Shea; Alex Pearce; Ciaran Clark; Stephen Ward
Midfielders: Jeff Hendrick; Glenn Whelan; Darron Gibson; Aiden McGeady; Jon Walters; Anthony Pilkington; James McClean; Robbie Brady; Stephen Quinn; David Meyler; Wes Hoolahan
Forwards: Robbie Keane; Shane Long; Daryl Murphy; Kevin Doyle; Anthony Stokes
