Roberto Martinez will be happy to hear this
James McCarthy was absolutely immense for Everton in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Manchester United and was deservedly named the man of the match afterwards.
He scored the opener and bossed the midfield in a way that we would love to see for Ireland.
So maybe Martin O’Neill should take some advice on how to get the best out of the player who has shone for his club but been disappointing when wearing green from the man himself.
In an interview in The Guardian the 24-year-old explains why he plays so differently for Everton compared to international level.
‘We have been working in training on a different style of play. The manager is letting me push on. Gareth Barry is sitting in there and I have to try to get back and help defensively but the manager wants to try to get more goals in my game. He is letting me off the leash a little.’
The former Hamilton man has also been linked with a number of high profile moves to clubs in the top four this season, while Jamie Carragher recently told SportsJOE that he would love to see the player at Anfield.
However the former Wigan player feels that his future is at Goodison Park, and hopes the club can push on for European football next season,
‘I have got time on my contract here. As it stands, I am tied down just now anyway. I am happy here. Nothing has changed from day one. I love it and I am still loving life. I have not heard anything. It is news to me if a club is going to come in and buy me in the summer. I have not spoken to anyone. I have not heard anything. The media has done a few stories but I am delighted to be here and I have many years still to come.’
‘It has been a very frustrating campaign for myself. Each and every one of us wants to get better and hopefully we can kick on. We want to finish this season on a high and next season we need to go again. We want to be pushing for European places, Champions League places, we want to have a go again.’