I was playing 25 games before I felt I could start running the show: Keane backs McCarthy

Does anyone think he doesn’t know what he’s talking about? Would anyone tell him anyway?

Roy Keane has backed James McCarthy to really put his stamp on the Republic of Ireland central midfield as the country heads for two big games against England and Scotland in the coming week. The Irish assistant boss – who mucked around in the middle of the park for a while as well – said that he didn’t just come in and command games at international level either, it takes time. And, after impressing with his 25^th cap against Poland back in March, Keane reckons McCarthy has the potential to push on now. Like he did. “James had a big impact in the second half but he is still finding his feet at international level, there’s nothing wrong with that,” the former Sunderland boss said. “I felt it took me 20-25 international games really to get a feel for the group, the players I was working with and I think James might be the same. Sometimes it can be a slow burner. “Like all players, he’s learning his trade but the signs were particularly good in the second half [against Poland]. “He’s playing regularly for Everton, we’re delighted with James. He has a chance of being a really good player but you’ve got to give the boy a little bit of breathing space.” Of course, having been starring in the Premier League for some time now, demands are never modest when it comes to McCarthy but, at 24, the former United midfielder thinks McCarthy has plenty of time. “I think sometimes there’s expectation placed on certain players – other players can be under the radar and seem to get away with it – but certain players, the fans or the media pick up and seem to put too much pressure on them, I think. “Give James a bit of a breather. He’s still a young lad. From my own experience, and that’s where I can talk from, I was playing for Ireland probably 20-25 games before I really felt, ‘I can start running the show now.’" And one of McCarthy’s team mates, Aiden McGeady, said that he never realised just how good the Everton midfielder was until he arrived at Goodison. “I only noticed with the system we played at Everton,” McGeady explained. “Him and Gareth Barry are required to do a lot of running because the wide players aren't required to go back so much. They kind of cover everything that comes down the flanks when the wide players aren't tracking back. “It's only really when I went there and seen it first hand and seen how much running he does and how much closing down he does, his stats must be ridiculous for every game. “The games he has been injured this year for us, he's been a big loss. If he wasn't injured, I would've said he would've been our player of the year.”