The Northern Irishman jests that he will speak to the new US President before Toffees boss Ronald Koeman.
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has jokingly said he will speak to new US President Donald Trump before Everton boss Ronald Koeman.
The North Irishman told a pre-match press conference via SkySports, that the Toffees boss was on his to-call list, but only after Trump and defeated Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton.
O’Neill, who was in ripe form before the Republic’s 1-0 win in Vienna versus Austria joked he would commiserate with Clinton, before even considering speaking to Koeman.
The former Aston Villa and Leicester City boss playfully added to the much-publicised falling out between club and country over the treatment of out-of-favour midfielder James McCarthy.
O’ Neill quipped: “(Ronald) would join my ‘to-call list’ but I should first put a call into Donald Trump to congratulate him, and then give my commiserations to Hillary Clinton.
“Then somewhere down the line, Koeman, yes. There is also the possibility that someone might call me, no?
“It was a continuation (of the argument) at the time but I seriously think it’s over now as far as we’re concerned. Just let us move on.”
His comments follow Roy Keane’s criticism of Koeman over not only McCarthy’s injury problems this season, but poor relations between Ireland and Everton as whole.
The Toffees midfielder has fallen down the pecking order on Merseyside this term due to the addition of Idrissa Gueye from Aston Villa, as well as his own documented spell on the sidelines with injury.
James McCarthy was forced to withdraw from the current Ireland squad due to said injury and O’Neill went on the explain his mischievous remarks, referencing the midfielder’s previous absence, only to be passed fit for Everton days later.
“I put James into a provisional squad because he thought that he might get through”, said O’Neill. “It was always the probability that he wouldn’t make it and, because it’s a hamstring, I wouldn’t really want to risk him.
“But the other time that he played before, he had recovered from the injury and the point was made that he was in Everton’s squad a few days later.”
The Ireland also boss added that he now wants to draw a line under the incident.
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