James McCarthy included in Republic of Ireland squad

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James McCarthy played first minutes of the season for Everton on Wednesday
The midfielder had picked up a knee injury in pre-season for the Toffees
Martin O'Neill named a 34-man squad for the November clash with Denmark

Published: 11:36 EDT, 26 October 2017 | Updated: 11:36 EDT, 26 October 2017

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James McCarthy has been included in the Republic of Ireland squad for next month's World Cup play-off against Denmark.

The 26-year-old midfielder played his first minutes of the campaign in Everton's 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday evening after finally shaking off the knee injury he sustained in pre-season.

He has been named in an initial 34-man party for the two-legged play-off having met up with the squad last month, but played no part in the victories over Moldova and Wales which clinched second spot in Group D.

James McCarthy (right) made his first appearance of the season for Everton against Chelsea

McCarthy's fitness or otherwise was the source of tension between international boss Martin O'Neill and club manager Ronald Koeman, who was sacked earlier this week, for much of the Dutchman's time at Goodison Park.

There is no place in the squad for Burnley striker Jonathan Walters as he too recovers from a knee problem, although O'Neill has not yet closed the door on him for the two games.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND WORLD CUP PLAY-OFF SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Rob Elliot (Newcastle), Colin Doyle (Bradford)

DEFENDERS: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Paul McShane (Reading), Richard Keogh (Derby), Shane Duffy (Brighton), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (both Burnley)

MIDFIELDERS: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), Daryl Horgan, Alan Browne (both Preston), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (both Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), James McCarthy (Everton), Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick (both Burnley), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds), David Meyler (Hull), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Jonny Hayes (Celtic), James McClean (West Brom)

FORWARDS: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich), Sean Maguire (Preston), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall)

Skipper Seamus Coleman is also missing despite closing in on a return from an horrendous double leg fracture which has sidelined him since March.

Striker Shane Long is included after overcoming the hip injury which kept him out of the 1-0 victory in Wales last month, as is David Meyler, who is suspended for the first leg after being booked in Cardiff.

Ireland head for Copenhagen on Saturday, November 11 with the reverse fixture taking place at the Aviva Stadium three days later.