Everton must take responsibility for the recurring injury problems of midfielder James McCarthy, who is a doubt ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Wales, according to Ireland assistant coach Roy Keane.

McCarthy was called-up by Ireland despite not featuring for the Merseyside club this season due to a persistent knee injury and an increasingly tetchy stand-off over the fitness of the 26-year-old has developed.

“James seems to be getting a lot of injuries at Everton so I don’t think we’ve anything to be worried about in terms of how much we push James,” Keane told a news conference.

“The medical staff are overseeing all of it and are in contact with Everton and all their scientists. I think they’ve more scientists involved than there needs to be.

“I always think clubs, as much as they look at what we’re doing, they certainly have to have look at what they are doing themselves. But James seems pretty upbeat and we’re glad to have him here.”

Manager Martin O’Neill said his medical staff are evaluating McCarthy’s fitness on a “day-by-day” basis ahead of Friday’s qualifier at home against Moldova.

Ireland are currently in third place on 13 points in Group D, one place and one point behind Wales who occupy the playoff spot with two matches remaining. (Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho fears that his side could struggle for momentum after a majority of his players left for international duty following their crushing 4-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

United handed Palace their seventh straight loss of the season with Marouane Fellaini’s brace sandwiched between Juan Mata’s opener and Romelu Lukaku’s late tap in.

Mourinho, who saw his side pick up a fourth league win of the season by a 4-0 margin, suggested the international break could upset the team’s rhythm with the potential for injuries an additional concern.

“I don’t welcome the break, it’s bad,” Mourinho, whose side were held 2-2 at Stoke City after the last break in August, told British media on Saturday.

“We had the first break and two days after the players came back we had to play another game. It’s not a good situation for us but moaning doesn’t help. We have to wait for them and hope there are not many problems,” the Portuguese said.

United, without long-term absentees Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo, face a tricky trip to Liverpool when Premier League action resumes on October 14, with games against Huddersfield, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea to follow.

After picking up 19 points from seven league games, United are second in the standings below neighbours Manchester City on goal difference.