Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed that James McCarthy will play for Ireland against Macedonia in Saturday evening’s Euro 2012 qualifying match.
McCarthy, who is still eligible to declare for either Ireland or Scotland trained with the rest of the Ireland squad this morning in Malahide.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez fuelled speculation about the midfielder's future earlier in the week when he claimed that McCarthy would not be rushed into make a decision, much to the bemusement of the FAI, McCarthy and his family.
However, Ireland boss Trappatoni has announced that McCarthy will feature against Macedonia, with a substitute's appearance being most likely.
“I’ve had to contend with this for a few years,” McCarthy remarked last week. “But it has really all stemmed from other people wanting it to happen. I am, and will remain, an Ireland player. I hope to play against Macedonia next weekend and that will put any talk of Scotland to bed once and for all.
“It reached new levels, went too far really, when I withdrew from the Ireland squad to play Wales. It was all above board. I was not long back in the Wigan team after three months out with an ankle injury and I was still taking things slowly as I didn’t want to risk anything. But this became a huge story and all the talk of me playing for Scotland resurfaced.
“My phone never stopped ringing. I’ve never received so many text messages and listened to so many voicemails. It was mental really. I’ve never been so popular!
“Trapattoni flew across to England to see me and we met at a hotel. He wanted to look me in the eye and ask if I was happy and committed to Ireland. I told him I was happy and wanted to play for him. It was a good meeting. We were both satisfied at the end of it. I appreciate the interest from Scotland but don’t want to go back on my word.”
Elsewhere, Centre back Richard Dunne has joined up with the rest of the squad, which assembled in Malahide last night, after staying behind at Aston Villa to continue treatment on his damaged shoulder, while midfielder Darron Gibson, who has a toe problem, is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday.
Striker Leon Best did meet up despite missing Newcastle's Barclays Premier League defeat at Stoke on Saturday with an ankle injury, but he was sent for a swim this morning as his team-mates trained at Gannon Park.
Damien Duff (Achilles) and Seamus Coleman (ankle) also sat out, while Jonathan Walters will join up with the squad on Thursday with his wife about to give birth any day now.
Ireland and Wigan midfield sensation James McCarthy has revealed that he has resumed training and expects to be back in action by the end of January.
The 20-year-old is recovering from serious ligament damage suffered in the Premier League clash with Bolton in October last year.
"I can't wait to get back," the midfielder admitted to the club's official website.
"My biggest problem has been trying to do too much too quickly, and the physios are always having to tell me to slow down!
"I'm hoping to be back for the Arsenal game towards the end of the month. I'm not 100 per cent sure, but that's definitely the target I've set for myself.
"I've started kicking the ball and hopefully this week I'll get more involved in the rest of the training."
With Di Santo and Moses also on the road to recovery for Wigan, McCarthy believes all three players can make a big impact in the second half of the season.
"The manager has been saying it'll be like having three new signings, and hopefully we can all make an impact.
"We're sitting in the relegation zone now, where we definitely don't want to be, and we need to try and kick the team on."
Stoke City defender Marc Wilson has been drafted into Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland squad ahead of their crucial European qualifying double-header against Russia and Slovakia.
Wilson from Aghagallon in County Antrim recently made a quick return to the Premiership after moving from cash strapped Portsmouth to Stoke City in a three million pounds deal in early September.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis speaking at the time of Wilson’s move to The Potters said "He showed great maturity last season in what was a very difficult time for Portsmouth, so he will give us more competition for midfield places."
Wilson received his first international call up from Trapattoni in March this year when he was included in the squad for the glamour friendly against Brazil at the Emirates stadium in London. Speaking at the time of his first senior call-up Wilson said “It was always my dream to play for the Republic. I had grown up supporting them, Words could not describe my feeling when I heard about the call-up.”
Wilson has previously represented Ireland at u18, u19 and u21 levels.
Wolves insist Stephen Hunt will return as good as before after dismissing fears of his injury.
The 28-year-old Ireland international completed his £3m move to Molineux yesterday on a three-year contract, despite being in rehabilitation for a damaged foot sustained against Wolves at the end of January.
Both the club and Hunt, who attended his press conference on crutches, steered away from setting comeback dates apart from confirming he will miss the first few games of the season.
Wolves’ concerns at Hunt’s injury – he had to have a ligament re-attached to his foot – and the subsequent price were believed to have been factors in the delay in getting the deal done.
But chief executive Jez Moxey and the club are satisfied Hunt will make a full recovery.
He said: “I accept that it’s unusual for players to be bought when they’re injured. But we’ve tracked Stephen for a very long time. He’s doing well in terms of his rehabilitation.
“Hull have been very open in providing us with his medical records and the surgeons who performed the operation are very satisfied with the rehab and progress he’s making.
“There are no complications. It’s just a question of time and Stephen will play when he’s ready.
“He started work with us yesterday and has been working out in the anti-gravity treadmill.”
Hunt initially played on for three weeks with painkilling injections, after initial x-rays revealed no damage and he didn’t see a foot specialist at the time.
But, when the pain continued, the Republic of Ireland international eventually underwent an exploratory operation which showed some damage, and a little bone was pinned.
He said: “I wouldn’t say it was mis-diagnosed, but it took a bit longer than expected.
“But I had an x-ray in my medical which showed everything is in place – Wolves wouldn’t have signed me without having a good look at that.
“People only need to look at my Prozone statistics and that will tell you enough.
“I know what I’m capable of and where I want to get to and I’ll make sure I get there.
“I’ll miss the first few games of the season. Hopefully it won’t be too many but for the next two months, I’m going to be working tirelessly.
“Everyone is happy and I’m over the worst of it now.”
Premiership managers Mick McCarthy and Roberto Martinez have issued a stern hands off warning to Premier League rivals over their in-form Irish players Kevin Doyle and James McCarthy.
The Irish duo only moved to the English Premier League, for a combined fee of £7million, last summer when Doyle left Reading for Wolves while McCarthy quit SPL side Hamilton to join Wigan.
But their valuation on the transfer market has rocketed after a season which has seen Doyle and McCarthy score eight goals between them and impress many with their work rate and determination.
Arsenal and Liverpool have both been linked with teenager McCarthy, who made his Ireland debut against Brazil earlier this month, while Doyle has a long list of admirers due to his superb form for Wolves.
But Wolves boss McCarthy believes that Doyle will spurn any suitors if the Molineux club avoid relegation this season and insists that he does not want to sell the Wexford-born star.
After last nights 3-1 win over Burnley, McCarthy and Doyle are likely to remain in the top flight next season.
"He loves it where he is. It's what makes the world go around, if a bigger, better, richer club gets in his head like any other player. But let me say, no-one would turn his head.
"I hope he scores another five or six goals and he is brilliant, keeps us up and everyone wants him and then we have a problem to deal with. I'd like to have that problem," added McCarthy, who was delighted with Doyle's selfless display in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa and his goal and contribution to the defeat of Burnley on Tuesday evening.
"He has had another great performance. We knew what we were buying. He was our signature player. I knew what I was buying and he's been everything I thought and probably more."
Wigan are aware that Arsenal have been keeping a special eye on McCarthy this season and it seems that a summer move for the Glasgow native is inevitable, but boss Martinez wants to keep McCarthy, and highly-rated forward Victor Moses, at the club.
"Can Wigan keep them? You'll have to ask the chairman that but I think they want to play 60 games for Wigan and them move on to the next level, but they are not ready for that yet," said Martinez.
"Maybe because they are ready to play in the Premier League now at that young age shows they are mature, but I don't think they want to go anywhere else."
Ireland international James McCarthy is hoping Wigan can secure Premier League survival as quickly as possible.
The Latics edged four points clear of the drop zone on Monday with an impressive 1-0 victory over Liverpool.
Confidence is now soaring around the DW Stadium, with belief returned to a side that had begun to wobble at an important stage of the season.
Promising midfielder McCarthy played a starring role in the success over Rafa Benitez's Reds and the Ireland international midfielder is determined to do all he can to ensure he is still a top-flight performer next term.
"It would be some feat to stay up," the 19-year-old said.
"We want to do that as soon as possible so we can enjoy this even more.
Bonus
"The gaffer (Roberto Martinez) had us in on Tuesday and told us Bolton on Saturday was an even bigger game for us.
"Liverpool was a bonus but we are playing better and have belief that we can stay up, which would be the highlight of my career."
McCarthy joined the Latics from Hamilton last summer and, having been eased into the frame by Martinez, feels he has now fully adjusted to life in the Premier League.
He added: "I'm really enjoying myself now. It was frustrating at the start, but this is what I've worked for since I was a kid.
"I've felt my touch get better and also my reading of the game. I've still got miles to go but this has been a great experience for me."
James McCarthy has 'scotched' recent tabloid rumours that he may be interested in representing Scotland, rather than Ireland.
McCarthy has represented Ireland at under 18, under 19 & u21 levels.
In a message posted on the Ireland football forum You Boys In Green, McCarthy mentions how it would be a dream to be selected to play in the Ireland senior squad and it would create great pride within his family, should he manage to make it into Giovanni Trapattoni’s starting eleven. He also thanked Ireland fans for their support and encouragement.
19 year old McCarthy has recently broken into the Wigan side and scored on his way to a man-of-the-match display in a 4-1 win over Hull City and his manager feels he can now kick on and become an established player within the Premier league.
"He showed on Saturday that he is ready. We all know James is going to be a big star in world football," the Wigan boss said.
"He has been working very hard and lately you could see he was ready in training and on Saturday he showed that he was ready to enjoy his football and ready to win games for Wigan."
Roberto Martinez believes Ireland U21 international James McCarthy is ready to play a big part for Wigan in the second-half of the season.
The 19-year-old signed from Hamilton in the summer having been tracked by some of Europe's biggest clubs since the age of 16.
However the midfielder has had to remain patient so far this season with just two appearances to his name before the FA Cup clash with Hull City.
Martinez decided to give the Ireland international only his second start of the season against the Tigers, a decision that was vindicated when McCarthy scored on his way to a man-of-the-match display in a 4-1 win and his manager feels he can now kick on.
"He showed on Saturday that he is ready. We all know James is going to be a big star in world football," the Latics boss said.
"He has been working very hard and lately you could see he was ready in training and on Saturday he showed that he was ready to enjoy his football and ready to win games for Wigan."
Martinez revealed that McCarthy was beginning to get frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities but the former Swansea manager saw that as a good thing.
"When you get frustrated it is because you are ready to play," he added.
"Sometimes you get a big move into the Premier League and with the change of environment it is very different and sometimes you lose the focus on your game.
"It was a big move for him as a young man when he came down from Scotland as it was the first time he had moved away from his only club and that takes time.
"It is important we help the youngsters - and every player that comes to Wigan. James has had the period he needed to settle in and now he is ready to play football and enjoy it.
"When he does that I'm sure the fans will enjoy it too."
James McCarthy is hoping to go out on loan in January after failing to break into Wigan Athletic's first team following his move from Hamilton Accies.
The 19-year-old Ireland Under-21 international linked up with The Latics last summer after joining in a deal that could rise as high as £3million depending on appearances.
However, McCarthy, who was a first-team regular during his time at New Douglas Park, has been restricted to just two appearances totalling 83 minutes under Roberto Martinez.
McCarthy knows he is one for the future and has stiff competition ahead of him for places in Martinez's squad, however, he is keen to continue his education by gaining more experience.
"It is a big squad and it is difficult to get in the team, and it is a big step up from the SPL to the Premier League," he told the Glasgow Evening Times.
"If something comes in and the gaffer is happy for me to go out on loan and get some first-team games then I will be happy to do that.
"If not, I just need to try and work myself into the Wigan team."
Hamilton and Ireland u21 midfielder James McCarthy has agreed a four-year contract to join Wigan Athletic for a fee of about £1.2m rising to £3m depending on appearances.
Wigan's English top-flight rivals Wolves also had an offer accepted by the Scottish Premier League club.
Accies chairman Ronnie MacDonald told BBC Scotland: "James is a superb prospect and I know Roberto Martinez and Wigan will look after him."
Wigan expect the deal for the 18-year-old to be concluded within 24 hours.
Promoted Wolves were the first club to agree a fee, but once Wigan joined the race it meant it would be down to the player to choose a preferred destination.
Tottenham Hotspur made a late expression of interest, while Celtic manager Tony Mowbray admitted that his club were being priced out of the race after they, Burnley and Portsmouth had bids rejected earlier this summer.
And it appears to have been manager Martinez's promise of involvement in the first-team squad that tipped the balance in favour of Wigan.
McCarthy, who rejected a transfer to Liverpool in 2007 and was also linked with Chelsea, received no such guarantees from Premier League rivals Spurs or Wolves.
He told Accies' website: "I had an absolutely brilliant time at Accies. The club have been tremendous with me."
The Ireland Under-21 international travelled to Wigan on Monday and will join his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp in Austria.
Kevin Doyle has pleaded with Reading not to sell his Ireland team-mate Stephen Hunt to Wigan Athletic.
Hunt took a step closer to the Premier League yesterday when Wigan tabled a £5million bid for the Ireland international, and as Reading are not in action this weekend due to their FA Cup exit, a deal could be done in the next 48 hours if Wigan boss Steve Bruce can prove he's serious about signing the Waterford man.
But Hunt's team-mate with club and country has begged the Royals not to sell Hunt and to keep him on board for their promotion push, despite the arrival at Reading earlier this week of a possible replacement in fellow Irishman Jay Tabb.
"Obviously I hope that us signing Jay Tabb doesn't mean Stephen Hunt going. We need everyone, especially him as he has been one of our best players for a while," said Doyle.
But Reading's determination to hold onto winger Hunt will be tested by the cash reserves available to Wigan boss Steve Bruce, who has £15million to spend due to the sale of Wilson Palacios to Spurs earlier this week.
Wigan had been keen on Fulham's Jimmy Bullard but he is now set to join Premier League rivals Hull City in a £6m deal, so Bruce will switch his attention to Ireland man Hunt.
The Waterford native almost joined Everton in a £4m deal last summer but that fell through when the clubs failed to agree on the payment process, with Everton offering the money in installments but Reading demanded the cash up front.
Hunt now has a clause in his contract which allows him leave the Madejski Stadium if another club makes a bid in excess of £5m.
Meanwhile West Ham are poised to make a bid for Sligo Rovers' Ireland U21 star Seamus Coleman, after Everton failed to make a substantial offer. Everton reportedly made a bid of just €100,000 for Coleman but Sligo are holding out for more and that could see West Ham nab the Donegal native. Sligo chairman Michael Toolan today confirmed that Rovers had held talks with three English Premier League teams and two SPL clubs.
