The player has been included in Martin O'Neill's squad for two crucial qualifiers, but his club boss wants him to go easy after injury
Ronald Koeman has urged James McCarthy to put club before country after the midfielder was called up for Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers next week.
McCarthy has been out since July with a knee injury, but that has not stopped Ireland manager Martin O'Neill calling him up to the provisional 32-man squad for the games against Moldova and Wales.
Everton 20/1 to finish top four
Koeman and O'Neill were involved in a public spat last season when McCarthy aggravated a hamstring injury while on international duty in March.