Roy Keane lashes out at Everton after James McCarthy's exit from Ireland squad

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane questions Everton's training methods Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane questions Everton's training methods

Roy Keane has criticised Everton following the withdrawal of midfielder James McCarthy from the Republic of Ireland squad.

McCarthy withdrew from the squad for the Republic's World Cup Qualifier against Austria with the hamstring injury, which kept him out of Everton's 5-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

Ireland boss Martin O'Neill and his Everton counterpart Ronald Koeman clashed over Ireland's use of McCarthy last month, O'Neill later accusing the Dutchman of "bleating".

And assistant manager Keane has now entered the debate, questioning Everton's training methods and their track record of failing to get players fit in time for international duty.

"We've had a problem with Roberto Martinez previously, I think he was a bit over the top - I always felt the Everton players were going to turn up on crutches or crawling in the hotel door," said Keane.

"It looks like we're going to have that issue with Everton again. Clubs are going to be selfish, they're going to look after their own players.

"I'm not sure when they last won a trophy, I know it was a few years ago so maybe they're overloading players with games but that usually means you're playing midweek games and Everton don't do that because they don't play European football.

James McCarthy will not be available for the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Austria

"I think they're out of the League Cup, I think Norwich beat them at Goodison. So maybe as a club, and it is a brilliant football club, but maybe their players need to toughen up a bit."

When asked if it was important that Ireland maintained a good relationship with Everton, Keane said: "No, not really.

"Why would we need to maintain a good relationship with Everton? They're lucky to have the Irish lads that they've got there. Everton have traditionally had good Irish players so they shouldn't be so quick to stop Irish players coming to play for Ireland.

"If a player is fit to travel and feels he can play a game, particularly a qualifying game, then they need to get their heads around that.

"(Darron Gibson) misses a hell of a lot of games for Everton, so maybe they need to look at their own training schedule.

"I couldn't care less about (Ronald) Koeman's opinions. There's no issue with me there."

O'Neill and Keane worked with their players for the first time at a rain-swept Abbotstown on Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday's game at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna.

Colorado Rapids striker Kevin Doyle was rested after his late arrival and Sunderland defender John O'Shea, who has been nursing a hamstring injury, was due to arrive later in the day.

West Brom winger James McClean was also absent after undergoing a scan on a back problem and he is being assessed, while Leeds midfielder Eunan O'Kane sat out with a groin injury.