BoysInBlue
Player Valuation: £50m
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
We should just pull them both out. Certainly McCarthy, if he's injured.
Scotland legend Gordon McQueen has launched an astonishing attack on Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy – insisting they deserve ‘a horrible reception’ when they appear for Martin O’Neill’s Republic on Friday night.
The pair, both born and raised in Scotland, used the grandparent ruling to pledge their allegiance to the Republic of Ireland.
McGeady, who was born in Paisley, represented Scotland schools as a teenager before switching while Glasgow-born midfielder McCarthy also spurned numerous approaches to declare for Scotland, telling the SFA it was his Donegal-born grandfather’s dying wish that he represented Ireland.
But McQueen insists he has ‘no time’ for players who turn their backs on the country and the former Scotland and Manchester United defender wants the Tartan Army to make it as uncomfortable a night as possible for the Everton duo in Friday’s crunch Euro 2016 qualifier.
‘Will it be hard for them coming back here with Ireland? I really hope so,’ McQueen said. ‘I hope they get a horrible reception because they deserve it.
‘You’re either Scottish or you’re not Scottish - and you should know that by the time you’re 12 years of age. I’m sure somebody must have asked them to play for Scotland at some stage.
‘But, you’re born in Glasgow but then you go and play for somebody else? I hate that! What’s that all about? I’m not having that at all. I’ve got no time for these players.’
McGeady and McCarthy, who is an injury doubt ahead of Friday’s crucial encounter, were often met with a hostile reception at away grounds when they played in the SPL.
But Irish ace Stephen Hunt has warned the Tartan Army that booing McGeady and McCarthy will only motivate Martin O’Neill’s side.
He said: ‘I’ve played in local derbies where there is great hatred but I don’t think Ireland against Scotland qualifies as one of those. The treatment James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady get could turn the atmosphere into something more like a typical derby.
‘If they get the reception that’s expected, it will add to the tension and I know the Ireland players will respond.’
For McQueen, his anger against the pair is solely about his fervent pro-Scottishness and although he is also frustrated by players who use the Saltire as a flag of convenience.
‘I played alongside the likes of Bob Wilson and Bruce Rioch, who were born in England but they always considered themselves Scottish. That’s all I want. If you feel Scottish then you’re Scottish!
‘I just hate these guys who think “I can’t get a game for England so I’ll play for Scotland”.’
McCarthy however has emerged as a major injury doubt for Friday night’s crunch qualifier.
The midfielder may not be able to feature after complaining of tightness in his hamstring following a 90-minute outing in Everton’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland yesterday.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has revealed the ex-Hamilton player will undergo tests to determine his readiness for international duty.
‘We are going to assess James,’ said Martinez. ‘He was feeling his hamstring towards the end of the game but he wanted to stay on the pitch because we had used all three subs.
‘It is a bit of a concern because he had the same injury a few weeks back when he missed the game against Manchester United and it is in that area. We are hoping that it is more fatigue than a soft tissue problem.
‘We will assess him in the morning.’
We should just pull them both out. Certainly McCarthy, if he's injured.
