Roy Keane has launched a stinging attack on Everton in the ongoing row between the club and the Republic of Ireland camp.
Keane’s outburst came after it was confirmed that Blues midfielder James McCarthy had withdrawn from his country’s World Cup qualifier with Austria.
Martin O’Neill called up McCarthy for the game in Vienna this weekend despite recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the end of last month.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman made no secret of his preference that the 26-year-old ignored his country’s request in order to make a full return to fitness.
But the move has drawn an incendiary response from Keane, who took aim at Everton’s approach to Ireland as well as their on-field mentality.
He said: “We’re disappointed that James didn’t make it but we will survive.
“I have no issue with Ronald Koeman’s opinions. We’ve never taken any unnecessary risks with players.
“We know players are under pressure from clubs, they are looking after themselves. Clubs are going to be selfish.
“We had a problem with (Roberto) Martinez, he was over-the-top and it looks as though we will have the same problem with Koeman.
“I felt that every time Everton players turned up they were always carrying knocks, they were always on crutches or crawling in the door of the hotel.
“If you’re overloading players that’s a good thing. It means you’re playing a lot of games and having success.
“I’m not sure when they last won a trophy. As a club, and they’re a brilliant club, maybe their players need to toughen up a bit.”
Keane also criticised Darron Gibson’s persistent absences for his country through injury in a further criticism of Everton’s training methods.
“Seamus Coleman has been a great player for Everton,” he added.
“Why would they try and begrudge these players playing for Ireland?’
“Darron Gibson misses a lot of matches and he gets injured a lot at Everton so maybe they need to look at their own training schedule.”