James McCarthy is ‘going to great club’ at Everton

James McCarthy: Delighted. Picture: Getty

The midfielder trained with his international colleagues at Malahide for the first time after being given permission to delay his arrival by manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

He was joined by West Brom striker Shane Long, who dashed back to England on Monday night as Hull attempted, ultimately in vain, to sign him.

Skipper Robbie Keane and defender Darren O’Dea both trained following their arrivals from America and Canada respectively, but Stoke defender Marc Wilson sat out once again as he nursed his ankle problem and keepers David Forde and Darren Randolph took no part in the game at the end of the session. However, assistant manager Marco Tardelli is confident all three will be fit for Friday night’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden.

No-one was more delighted than Jon Walters when Republic of Ireland team-mate McCarthy completed his deadline day move to Everton.

“He was delighted to get the move,” said Merseyside-born Stoke striker Walters. “I’m an Everton fan as well, so I am delighted for him. He’s going to a great club and he’s got friends there with Seamus [Coleman] as well, going to a manager he knows and who trusts him, so it’s a great move for him.”

It proved an eventful end to the transfer window for another member of the Ireland squad, with Long failing to tie up a move to Hull, much to the disappointment of potential new club-mates Paul McShane and Robbie Brady.

However, Walters is confident the collapse of Long’s proposed transfer will not distract him. He said: “The Hull lads are a bit gutted they didn’t get him but he’s at West Brom and he’s had a really good couple of years there and I don’t expect any different from him next year.”