James McCarthy says no to Euros to care for father GLASGOW-born Republic of Ireland midfielder James McCarthy asked to be withdrawn from consideration for selection for Euro 2012 after his father was diagnosed with cancer, manager Giovanni Trapattoni revealed yesterday. McCarthy, who switched his allegiance from Scotland to Ireland, was not in the 23-player squad named by Trapattoni in Dublin yesterday. In a statement issued by the Football Association of Ireland, McCarthy said: "I have made the very difficult decision to withdraw my name from selection from the Euro 2012 squad following the diagnosis of my father with cancer and an ongoing requirement for treatment. I have discussed this with the manager. He was very understanding and I thank him sincerely for that. I take this opportunity to re-affirm my complete commitment to playing for the Republic of Ireland. It is a huge honour and source of great pride for me and my family. Despite not being present, I would like to wish the manager and my team-mates every success at the tournament and hope that Irish fans can understand the reason for my decision at this difficult time. Meanwhile, Trapattoni answered the pleas of a nation when he named James McClean in his squad. Just six months ago, McClean was a relative unknown outside Ireland as he waited patiently for a chance to show what he could do in the Premier League for Sunderland. Now the midfielder will be given the opportunity to showcase his skills to a pan-European audience as the fairytale which his career has become continues unabated. The 23-year-old got his big chance when then-Sunderland manager Steve Bruce made a £350,000 summer move to sign him from Derry City. Bruce, ever cautious of the potential for a young player's confidence to suffer irreparable damage by premature exposure, kept him waiting in the wings. Had he known the impact McClean would have when he was finally thrust into the limelight, the former Manchester United skipper might have unleashed him, but ultimately it was fellow Ulsterman Martin O'Neill who let the exciting winger thrive to devastating effect. O'Neill said: "He came to prominence in December for us and has just kept going. He has been wonderful. He has approached every single game in the same manner. He has not allowed performances to dip too much. McClean's form for Sunderland sparked a clamour in Ireland for him to be capped at senior international level, although one which initially went unheeded by Trapattoni. The 73-year-old Italian insisted he knew all about the new wing sensation, but his insistence that all his players know the system he plays inside-out, and his loyalty to the men who booked the nation's ticket to Poland and Ukraine meant, to the dismay of many, the youngster was not initially included in the squad for the February friendly against the Czech Republic. However, fate was to intervene and when injuries prompted Trapattoni to add him to the party, the die was cast. Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady is in the squad, Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph is a stand-by but there was no room for Parkhead striker Anthony Stokes.