Advertisement

Call it a comeback! Glenn Whelan arrives in Ireland camp in late bid to prove his fitness

Midfielder determined to show that he has recovered from a fractured leg.

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

GLENN WHELAN IS not taking no for an answer.

The midfielder trained in Malahide this morning in a late bid to prove his fitness for Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.

Whelan was left out of Martin O’Neill’s 27-man squad but flew in to join his international team-mates in Dublin nonetheless.

Ireland leave for Glasgow on Thursday morning and Whelan is determined to prove that he has recovered from the fractured leg he suffered against Germany.

He hasn’t featured for Stoke City since but was encouraged after coming through a training with the Potters unscathed.

Who are Christie and McGoldrick and why has it taken Ireland so long to call them up?

‘They were magnificent for each other’: O’Neill calls for Keane and Fergie to bury the hatchet

Close
21 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute noellynam
    Favourite noellynam
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:10 PM

    Fairplay to him, but I think I’d rather have McCarthy if fit and Hendrick as our central midfield pairing

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kian David Griffin
    Favourite Kian David Griffin
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 12:54 PM

    Respect!

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Menezes
    Favourite Nick Menezes
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:06 PM

    Fair play to him great commitment but a non fully fit Glenn Whelan is going to do more bad then good in my opinion.Gibson,Hendrick,Meyler and Quinn are better players then a fit Whelan and and should be trusted to replace him.Although fair play to him for turning up,limited player but real pro.

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen O Flynn
    Favourite Stephen O Flynn
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:21 PM

    That’s patriotism fair play.

    86
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran Heavey
    Favourite Fran Heavey
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:02 PM

    Its alright Glenn,rest yourself there.No need to rush….

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Duffy
    Favourite Mark Duffy
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 12:57 PM

    Nooooooooooo

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute donal kirrane
    Favourite donal kirrane
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 2:28 PM

    The bench is looking well for whelan

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Fitzgerald
    Favourite Gerard Fitzgerald
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:19 PM

    Hendrick looks good so did Gibson v Germany,but i cannot see what all the fuss is about with McCarthy,i hope he does eventually convince me,Friday night would be a good time to start!!!Whelan showing th type of commitment that inspires fans and players,COYBIG!!!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran Heavey
    Favourite Fran Heavey
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:43 PM

    How can you not be convinced by James McCarthy…….one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League?

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Panch Murphy
    Favourite Panch Murphy
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:49 PM

    Easy now there fella.
    Let’s think before we speak in future…….

    A decent CM who has potential.
    One of the best in the PL, not even close at the moment.

    47
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Kennedy
    Favourite Paul Kennedy
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 2:19 PM

    I would say he’s closer than you’d imagine, not because he’s unbelievably good, because there’s a real shortage of top midfielders that preform consistently in the premiership. Fabregas, Matic and Toure are the outstanding ones I can think of. After that theirs a big gap and McCarthy is one of the better players in the group below the players I’ve mentioned.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Kennedy
    Favourite Paul Kennedy
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 2:26 PM

    Obviously I’m talking about more central midfield players. This doesn’t include the likes of David Silva, Di Maria, Sanchez etc. They’re attacking midfielders.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Calvin McFly
    Favourite Calvin McFly
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 2:30 PM

    McCarthy has been brilliant as a defensive midfielder for Everton this season. Incredible work rate, reliable on the ball, may not be involved in much attack play but a lot of it starts from him .

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran Heavey
    Favourite Fran Heavey
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 3:14 PM

    I meant central midfield in the true sense.not number 10.hes absolutely right up there.i think Chelsea is the only club he wouldnt be a regular at and even then hed still get game time.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Panch Murphy
    Favourite Panch Murphy
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 3:52 PM

    Lads even if we are talking classic CM there are loads ahead of him.

    Fabregas
    Matic
    Yaya Toure
    Fernandinho
    Morgan Schneiderlin
    Steven Gerrard
    Tiote
    Fabian Delph

    All above have more goals to their games than McCarthy and better range of passing, the other argument of his breaking up attacks well I’d argue their is many others just as effective as he is at doing that not least his partner Barry who actually dictates much of Evertons play.
    Players who probably impose themselves on games more than McCarthy would include
    N’Zonzi
    Mile Jedinak
    Jordan Henderson etc

    Like I said he’s a decent young prospect and I hope he really improves but one of the best in the league, how over.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Kennedy
    Favourite Paul Kennedy
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 4:37 PM

    I think you’ve just reinforced my argument with the players you’ve mentioned. Apart from Toure, Fabregas, Schneirdlin and Matic, there aren’t much better than him. Gerrard and Henderson have been poor this season, Fernandino is good but had been in and out of the city team, and I wouldn’t rate Tiote, Delph or Jedinak any higher than McCarthy.

    It just goes to show the lack of quality midfielders in the premiership.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Panch Murphy
    Favourite Panch Murphy
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 7:34 PM

    The lad can play, he hold onto the ball well enough but come on, take off the rose tinted glasses.

    He’s not particularly imposing physically, he doesn’t dictate the tempo of a game in the way a top CM does, rarely ever gets goals, no driving midfield runs, he’s hardly a man with a killer pass in him, crabs it sideways mostly, Barry shines more then him at Everton.

    He’s decent, tactically disciplined and doesn’t lose possession that’s about it.

    Like honestly look at that statement, one of the best CM in the PL.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fran Heavey
    Favourite Fran Heavey
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 7:43 PM

    Panch ur struggling there…..henderson,gerrard,delph????Liverpool would give half their team to have McCarthy,i can guarantee u that

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marc MacFhearchair
    Favourite Marc MacFhearchair
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 1:57 PM

    In a word… crap!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Flynn
    Favourite Shane Flynn
    Report
    Nov 11th 2014, 11:24 PM

    Enough with the Whelan bashing, he’s an experienced player who has played in big games for Ireland, and if the rest of the squad showed a quantum of the dedication he’s after showing there, we’d beat all round us. The 2 newbies had best take note – this is the commitment we want from the men who are given the honour of representing our country. Learn the lesson…

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gordon Weldon
    Favourite Gordon Weldon
    Report
    Nov 12th 2014, 12:35 AM

    He is simply not good enough, has no creative skill, plays the ball backwards.stay away!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.