Back to the Manchester United Newsfeed

Roy Keane takes pop at Everton and Ronald Koeman after James McCarthy withdraws from Republic of Ireland squad through injury

Roy Keane says that he 'couldn't care less' about the opinion of Ronald Koeman after the Everton boss accused Republic of Ireland of risking the fitness of James McCarthy - and he has suggested the club needs to 'toughen up'.

The Ireland assistant has even taken a dig at Everton's 21-year barren spell without a trophy as the war of words between club and country intensified.

McCarthy - who has missed Everton's last three matches with a hamstring problem - withdrew from the Republic squad to face Austria in Vienna on Saturday after Koeman urged his midfielder to remain on Merseyside.