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McCarthy: Doherty is second best behind Coleman for Republic of Ireland

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Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has said that he prefers Everton’s Seamus Coleman over Wolves right back Matt Doherty as he dubs them both “fabulous” players.

The Toffees star has been the first choice option for McCarthy during international duty with Molineux ace Doherty forced to settle for a place on the bench despite his massively impressive first season in the Premier League.

Revealing that he loves the Wolves man, having signed him for the club during his time in the midlands, McCarthy admitted it was Coleman who impresses him more on the right side of the defence.

He told the Express and Star: “In my opinion, Seamus is the best right-back. I think Matt is a fabulous right-back but, unfortunately for him, I think Seamus is a better one. At this moment in time why would I leave Seamus out?

“It’s always about someone who doesn’t play. And the other thing about Seamus is, he’s a fabulous personality and the captain of the team. It’s just difficult, you know.

“Matt isn’t an attacker, he’s a right wing-back and he is a brilliant right wing-back for Wolves but unfortunately sometimes, the manager just thinks that there is somebody who is better in that position. I can’t say anything other than that or give you any other reasons. I really love Matt Doherty. I signed him at Wolves, he’s had a great career.”

Opinion

This is one of those times fans will not be envious of the manager and the decisions he has to make. Both Coleman and Doherty have proven their worth in England’s top flight and quite frankly it is cruel that the Republic of Ireland manager has to make that call. Still, you can understand why Coleman is his first choice, the Everton full back perhaps more defensively capable than the Wolves man, who has established himself as a rampaging wing back during his first season among England’s elite. You can be sure that is Coleman is not fully fit then Doherty will be stepping into that void and doing all he can to convince McCarthy to make his move into the starting XI a permanent one. Performances like last season will continue to make the manager’s job a harder one and it might well be that the Wolves star can take Coleman’s place of his own accord, rather than waiting for some sort of plight to strike the Everton player down.

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